Border Patrol spokesman Jason Owens said the U.S. authorities should put in place tougher immigration laws, including putting people in jail, to stop illegal immigration along the southern border in an interview with CBS News on Thursday.
In his first sit-down interview with Border Patrol in English since taking over the top position there in June 2023, Owens said,“ I think we need to look at the hospital rules and create it so that only those with a genuine claim may seek prison.“ “ I believe that we need to be able to impose the immigration laws that are in place and keep those who choose to break the law guilty,“ said one analyst.
Asked if was referring to tougher national guidelines, Owens said,” Yes”.
” If there’s no desire to do it the right way, and the right way, it is causing people to have to wait a little bit longer”, Owens said. ” Obviously, they’re going to choose to travel between the ports of entry. We must remove that and secure entry for everyone.
During the meeting at Customs and Border Protection headquarters in Washington, Owens said Border Patrol, which is a section of CBP, needs more resources and the ability to establish higher” effects” for refugees who cross the U. S. Mexico borders without license.
” I’m talking about prison period. He said,” I’m talking about being taken out of the country and being prevented from coming back because you chose to do so in the improper manner rather than the legally mandated paths that we’ve set for you.”
More than 2 million migrant misgivings along the southern border have been reported over the past three years, according to Owens ‘ organization, in addition to more than 2 million in each of the previous fiscal years.
In recent months, the Biden administration has pushed Congress to pass stricter borders laws. A bipartisan immigration agreement reached in the Senate would have boosted the ability of the government to deport migrants immediately, raised the bar for proof in first asylum interviews, and speeded up the decision-making process for asylum claims. Additionally, it would have given the executive branch a novel legal power to effectively halt hospital between authorized ports of entry when migrant bridges exceed a certain threshold.
After past president Donald Trump publicly opposed the package, which fell apart in Congress, causing GOP lawmakers to follow suit. Republicans claimed the border contract did not secure it much, and that the Biden administration could do more to enact the already-in place immigration laws.
Owens also made his first feedback in regards to SB4, a Texas multiculturalism law that would allow local and state authorities in the Lone Star State to detain, detain, and punish immigrants. A federal appeals court once more delayed the laws, which is currently being challenged by the Biden administration.
There is” no better companion for the Border Patrol than the Texas Department of Public Safety,” according to Owens, who claimed the legislation “is not going to stop us from doing our job.”
We have collaborated with that organization for as long as I’ve been in, and I do n’t think that will ever stop. They have always been very nice at complementing our vision”, Owens added. ” They back us up when we’re out in the industry, and we do for them as well. So whatever the rules are that they’re going to get enforcing, our goal remains constant. Their goal remains frequent”.