An internal Border Patrol memo obtained by Fox News instructs agents in the San Diego sector to release all single adults from all but six countries in the Eastern Hemisphere, classifying them as “difficult” or “very difficult” to deport.
The memo comes after President Biden issued an executive order banning asylum seekers. most illegal immigrants It took effect last week.
Biden announced the order On Tuesday, he said he was “overcoming Republican obstruction and using the executive powers I have as president to do everything I can to fix the border issue.”
The memo, details of which were first reported by Anna Giaritelli of the Washington Examiner, instructs agents that all single adults arriving from the Eastern Hemisphere should be processed through “NTA/OR,” which means Notice to Appear/Release on Self-Recognition, from the Eastern Hemisphere. Except for immigrants.
Despite Biden’s border order, thousands of migrants are still sneaking into the U.S. every day
Fox News obtained an internal Border Patrol memo that was sent to agents in the San Diego sector and instructs them to release all single adults in all but six countries in the Eastern Hemisphere. (Bill Melukin/Fox News)
There are over 100 countries in the Eastern Hemisphere, which means that although the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and President Biden’s threats The vast majority of immigrants in the San Diego area will be released into the U.S. under new executive order and pledge to deport immigrants who cross the border illegally
A senior Border Patrol official told Fox News’ Bill Melugin that this is localized guidance for the San Diego area simply because they encounter unique countries around the world there.
The official said this is not guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or the Department of Homeland Security for the entire border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said that even if the immigrants are released into the United States, they will still not be eligible for asylum and cannot file asylum claims.
There are many countries considered “die-hards” by the U.S. government who will not cooperate with U.S. deportation flights and refuse to take back their citizens.
During a DHS background call with reporters on Friday, the agency acknowledged that it would be difficult for them to exclude certain Eastern Hemisphere countries, but that they were working with those countries, including China, to gain cooperation.
Border officials note that while the San Diego area encounters a large number of people from the Eastern Hemisphere who are being released in court because their home countries are not cooperating with deportations, two-thirds of the encounters in the San Diego area are from Western Hemisphere countries that are prone to clearing ( A large number of these countries are being cleared rapidly), including Colombia and Ecuador. Thousands of illegal immigrants from these Western Hemisphere countries have been deported or deported since the order took effect, the official added.
‘Biden failed’: Democrats speak out over handling of border crisis, splitting party
The memo comes after President Joe Biden’s executive order banning asylum for most illegal border crossers took effect last week. (Bill Melukin/Fox News)
The CBP official said they are “clearly” aware that strengthening enforcement of Biden’s executive orders will take time and they will continue to engage with uncooperative countries and begin taking back their citizens.
They also acknowledged that until those agreements are reached, many Eastern Hemisphere counties will continue to release in the San Diego area and said they can only do so much through executive orders.
Fox News footage continues to show Border Patrol buses releasing hundreds of migrants at a San Diego trolley stop almost every day.
‘It’s insulting’: Biden border order draws strong criticism from Democrats and Republicans
Migrants line up at the southern border in San Diego on June 6, 2024. (Fox News)
Officials said the presidential proclamation would temporarily halt the entry of migrants across the southern border once the average number of daily border encounters exceeds 2,500 over a seven-day period. The Departments of Homeland Security and Justice have also enacted a rule to increase asylum standards.
However, there are a number of important exceptions to this rule.
Click here to get the Fox News app
The rule does not apply to legal immigrants, unaccompanied children or people determined to be “victims of aggravated trafficking.” It also does not apply to people who make appointments through the CBP One app at the port of entry, where about 1,500 people enter each day.
There are exceptions for those who are allowed entry “based on the totality of the circumstances, including consideration of important law enforcement, official and public safety, emergency humanitarian and public health interests that would warrant entry for non-citizens.”
Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
