Thread: Illegal aliens at Artesia, N.M, facility will be deported

DHS Secretary Johnson: Immigrants at Artesia, N.M, facility will be deported

By Luis Carlos Lopez / El Paso Times POSTED: 07/11/2014 11:33:27 AM MDT


Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, center, listens as Deputy Chief of Border Patrol Ronald D. Vitiello, right, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 24, 2014, before the House Homeland Security Committee hearing regarding the growing problem of unaccompanied children crossing the border into the US. At left is Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) (Charles Dharapak)


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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Friday that undocumented immigrants from Central America who were transported to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, N.M., will be deported next week.

Johnson traveled to Artesia today to review "review ongoing government-wide response to the influx of adults traveling with children and unaccompanied children across the southwest border," a news release from DHS said.

Johnson will also travel to Weslaco, Texas, where he will meet with state officials to discuss the humanitarian crisis happening along the U.S-Mexico border, the release stated.

Citing "operational and security reasons," ICE officials on Friday said that it would not disclose how the agency decides what families are sent to Artesia and what families get released to local shelters.

"A family unit includes a child, or children traveling with one or more parents or legal guardian. Family units apprehended and transferred to the custody of ICE are reviewed on a case by case basis, prioritizing national security and public safety to make appropriate custody determinations," an ICE official said.

Undocumented immigrants have been transported from the South Texas border to cities, including El Paso, through buses and planes.

Each flight carries about 135 immigrants.

On Thursday the Annunciation House, a local organization that has helped care for processed and released undocumented immigrants in El Paso, said that about 2,000 immigrants have been released since planes started landing in El Paso a month ago.

Luis Carlos Lopez may be reached at 546-6381.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/latestnew...tention-center

Well, since they have not yet been doing adequate criminal background checks, let's hope it's those that failed health screenings.

Homeland Security Secretary: First flight of immigrant kids, women to leave next week

Flight bound from Artesia, N.M. to Central America

POSTED YESTERDAY, 7:11 PM UPDATED YESTERDAY, 7:13 PM

By KSAT Reporter
Jessie Degollado

SAN ANTONIO -
Immigration and Customs Enforcement would not confirm the date, other than next week, for the first flight of deported women and children bound from Artesia, N.M. to Central America.

Word came from Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson during a visit to the detention facility Friday.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX 28) went a step further in telling KSAT 12 the planeload will be leaving Monday, but he did not say how many would be on board or their specific destination.

Cuellar also said more flights are likely in the near future.

“I hope they send that message to Central America that you’ve got to follow the legal process to get into the United States,” Cuellar said.

He said rather than the images of families being freed at bus stations, a plane arriving with those who have been deported will convey not everyone who has come will be allowed to stay in the U.S.

“If they don’t have a claim, a legal claim, as long as they have a credible fear and need that, we’re going to return you under current law,” Cuellar said.

Cuellar said he believes those being deported next week, have gone before immigration judges as mandated by law regarding the treatment of minors from Central America.

As for their safety, once they return to countries like Honduras, known to have the highest murder rate in the world, Cuellar said the U.S. government has worked out agreements and protocol in advance of their arrival.

“We are working with the countries to make sure they have the capacity to bring them back to family members and put them in the right hands,” Cuellar said.

http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat...t-flights.html