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Mayorkas Could Face Pushback from Rank-and-File Agents Who Have Been Instructed to “Catch and Release” Migrants

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will make a sudden trip to the U.S.-Mexico border on Saturday following a historic week in which daily encounters of migrants attempting to enter illegally topped 10,000 and show no sign of slowing.

The DHS announced on Friday morning that Mayorkas will travel to the Rio Grande Valley of southeast Texas. In an unusual move, Mayorkas will be joined by a foreign dignitary. Honduran President Xiomara Castro will travel with Mayorkas and tour the McAllen area.

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The visit to the Rio Grande Valley could irk Border Patrol agents further west in Eagle Pass and Del Rio, where more thousands of illegal immigrants have streamed across the Rio Grande since last weekend, with no end in sight.

READ: Illegal Border Crossings on the Rise in Eagle Pass

The Rio Grande Valley reported the second-most people processed and in government custody of the nine sections Border Patrol divides the 2,000-mile boundary into. The Rio Grande Valley reported 3,239 immigrants in custody as of Thursday morning, according to internal data obtained by the Washington Examiner.

“In addition to discussing our continued cooperation with Honduras on reducing irregular migration in a safe, orderly, and humane way, the Secretary will oversee southwest border enforcement operations and highlight lawful pathways as an alternative to smugglers,” the department stated in a media advisory.

The Border Patrol’s regional facility capacity of roughly 1,800 has been crushed, according to internal data that revealed how over capacity the buildings and tents were.

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Mayorkas could face pushback from rank-and-file Border Patrol agents who have largely been instructed to “catch and release” illegal immigrants rather than detain people through court proceedings or return them to their country of origin.

READ: Texas Republicans Turn on Speaker Dade Phelan After Failed Impeachment of Ken Paxton

Immigrants are released to nearby nonprofit shelters or directly on the street and typically handed a paper document that states when to appear in immigration court, not for several years.

Source: Washington Examiner