Speaking to Fox News' Sean Hannity Tuesday night, Attorney General Jeff Sessions reiterated that the U.S.-Mexico border is not open for illegal activity and that those considering crossing into the U.S. unlawfully should stay home.
"The border is not open. Do not come. If you do come, you will be apprehended and deported promptly," Sessions said.
Speaking from Nogales, Arizona earlier this week, Sessions announced new guidelines for DOJ prosecutors handling illegal immigration cases.
"For those that continue to seek improper and illegal entry into this country, be forewarned: This is a new era. This is the Trump era. The lawlessness, the abdication of the duty to enforce our immigration laws and the catch and release practices of old are over," Sessions said.Starting today, federal prosecutors are now required to consider for prosecution all of the following offenses:
The transportation or harboring of aliens. As you know too well, this is a booming business down here. No more. We are going to shut down and jail those who have been profiting off this lawlessness — people smuggling gang members across the border, helping convicted criminals re-enter this country and preying on those who don’t know how dangerous the journey can be.
Further, where an alien has unlawfully entered the country, which is a misdemeanor, that alien will now be charged with a felony if they unlawfully enter or attempt enter a second time and certain aggravating circumstances are present.
Also, aliens that illegally re-enter the country after prior removal will be referred for felony prosecution — and a priority will be given to such offenses, especially where indicators of gang affiliation, a risk to public safety or criminal history are present.
Fourth: where possible, prosecutors are directed to charge criminal aliens with document fraud and aggravated identity theft — the latter carrying a two-year mandatory minimum sentence.