Thousands of minors in CBP custody

The number of illegal crossings at the US borders has risen sharply in recent weeks, drawing the attention of the American public and opposition groups, and has also been a major topic in national news.

The number of undocumented immigrants apprehended by border forces such as CBP (Customs and Border Protection) shows that the Biden administration must carry out different strategies to curb irregular immigration, enforce immigration law at the borders and make sure foreigners follow the guidelines established by the local immigration system.

One of the most controversial issues among the American population is the surge of unaccompanied immigrant minors arriving at the US borders without legal documentation. Under local law, CBP must transfer unaccompanied minors to HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) facilities and they cannot be detained by border agencies for more than 72 hours.

However, CBP is struggling to comply with this order due to the number of unaccompanied immigrant minors apprehended at the borders in recent weeks. In fact, as of Monday, March 8, 2021, CBP had more than 3,200 children in its custody, a fairly high number compared to previous years.

It is important to remember that less than a month ago, at the end of February, CBP had approximately 1,200 minors in its custody, which shows that the number is growing exponentially.

CBP states that it cannot always transfer minors to HHS centers due to lack of space to house them, and because more than 90% of the beds are already occupied, taking into account health and sanitary protocols in the midst of the global pandemic.

Current administration officials intervene in the border controversy

Several Biden administration officials traveled to the southern borders of the US on Saturday, March 6, to inspect and supervise how border entities and HHS employees are handling the arrival of hundreds of unaccompanied immigrant minors.

Adding to that, the Biden administration plans to increase the maximum capacity at HHS facilities to pre-pandemic levels in order to house unaccompanied minors transferred by CBP.

In fact, Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has stated on several occasions that the Biden administration will do everything possible to prevent the deportation of immigrant minors who arrive at the US borders unaccompanied.

It is tremendously important to follow the advice of experts when starting an immigration process of any kind. In this way, you avoid precarious situations and prepare the necessary documentation correctly. Contact Motion Law and schedule a Free Consultation with our experienced attorneys!

Other than that, you can visit our Blog section if you want to keep up to date with the latest immigration news, policies and measures.

Do you need to start your immigration process soon?

Despite President Biden’s welcoming stance on immigration, it is imperative to follow legal guidelines when embarking on an immigration journey in the US. In many cases, the lack of information and reliable sources can lead hundreds of immigrants to make the risky decision to cross borders without prior authorization.

Therefore, having the constant accompaniment of experts on immigration issues becomes essential, even more so now in times of global crisis.

If you, a family member, or a friend need help with an immigration case, please contact Motion Law today to schedule a FREE Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys. Our team will be happy to guide you through your immigration journey in the US.

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