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Biden’s Phones for Illegal Immigrants Program Isn’t Even the Worst Part of His Border Policy

Illegal immigrants are being provided with cell phones as part of the Biden administration’s “Alternatives to Detention Program,” the White House confirmed Wednesday.

SO WHAT

President Biden seems unable to make the tough calls necessary to secure the border.

WHAT HAPPENED

In response to a question by Fox News’ Peter Doocy, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged the program, saying the phones were being used to track and “check in” with illegal border crossers awaiting immigration court proceedings.

Doocy then asked if the program was an effective deterrent of illegal border crossings and if the White House was concerned released immigrants would simply take the phones and “toss them.”

  • “Our concern is ensuring that individuals who irregularly migrate to the United States proceed through our process of, you know, of course, being monitored, but also participating in hearings to determine whether or not they will be able to stay,” Psaki said.
  • Some released migrants are being given the phones and told to turn themselves in to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials “in a city of their choice,” Los Angeles-based Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported Tuesday.
  • Forty-four percent of immigrants who are not in federal custody fail to show up to their hearings, per 2019 Justice Department numbers.

IT GETS WORSE

Biden’s rollback of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies have led to an escalating crisis on the border.

  • Border crossings hit a record-high in 2021, while ICE deportations dropped to the lowest levels in the agency’s history, an annual report released in March showed.
  • At least 160,000 illegal immigrants were released into the country from March to October last year, Fox News reported, citing Border Patrol documents.

Having already weakened Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy — after a court blocked him from scrapping it altogether — Biden plans to next month end the Title 42 public health policy.

  • Biden’s own officials have warned that lifting Title 42 could lead illegal border crossings to surge to 18,000 per day.

THE PUSHBACK

Amid bipartisan backlash to Biden’s Title 42 plans, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Texas Republican, vowed Wednesday to transport migrants released in his state to Washington, D.C.

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