While the Biden administration has publicly claimed that the thousands of Haitian illegal immigrants under a bridge in Del Rio, Texas, are facing expulsion, many are being released into the United States, according to a new Associated Press report.
Two U.S. officials told the wire service that Haitians have been released on a “very, very large scale.” The number of illegal immigrants exploded from under 1,000 earlier this month to at times more than 15,000. Many have reportedly been sent on with notices to appear within 60 days at an immigration office.
A second U.S. official, also with direct knowledge and speaking on the condition of anonymity, said large numbers of Haitians were being processed under immigration laws and not being placed on expulsion flights to Haiti that started Sunday. The official couldn’t be more specific about how many.
The releases in the U.S. were occurring despite the signaling of a massive effort to expel Haitians on flights to Haiti under pandemic-related authority that denies migrants an opportunity to seek asylum. A third U.S. official not authorized to discuss operations said there were seven daily flights to Haiti planned starting Wednesday.
Accounts of wide-scale releases — some observed at the Del Rio bus station by Associated Press journalists — are at odds with statements a day earlier by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who traveled to Del Rio to promise swift action. (AP)
During a new conference on Monday, Mayorkas attempted to claim the border is closed.
“If you come to the United States illegally, you will be returned, your journey will not succeed, and you will be endangering your life and your family’s life,” he said.
Many pointed out that not only was Mayorkas not being truthful, but the administration's quick "solution" will only exacerbate the problem.
Of all the Biden backfires, this will be his worst. When people come here illegally and are released in the US, they’ll call home and tell family/friends US borders are open and you should come. This is a reckless border policy that invites lawbreaking. https://t.co/PWcJGwejYk
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 22, 2021
Yet again Biden’s solution to a border crisis is to just let migrants in faster. This means only more will come. https://t.co/g8JMeDGMqA
— Conn Carroll (@conncarroll) September 22, 2021
??????
— Oversight Committee Republicans (@GOPoversight) September 22, 2021
Yesterday, President Biden promised to get the Border Crisis "under control" amid a massive surge in migrants.
His solution?
Just letting them in... https://t.co/kBaxC89wj8
?? The Biden administration claimed they're removing thousands of Haitians who've entered the U.S. illegally.
— John Cooper (@thejcoop) September 22, 2021
AP reports this morning that was a lie. #BidenBorderCrisis #DelRio https://t.co/bmrBURJxQy
Officials: Many Haitian migrants are being released in US https://t.co/pw1dAc4yH2 When @SecMayorkas said "If you come to the United States illegally, you will be returned, your journey will not succeed" he was knowingly retailing a falsehood -- i.e., lying.
— Mark Krikorian (@MarkSKrikorian) September 22, 2021