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The number of migrants caught crossing the southern border illegally rose in February as single adult Mexicans poured into the country at their highest rate in years, according to new Homeland Security data released Tuesday.

All told, Customs and Border Protection tallied 164,973 encounters with unauthorized migrants last month, up about 7% compared to January.

CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus called the increase which works out to more than 10,000 additional people in February, a shortened month a slight uptick.

Of those caught, 71,210 were Mexican. Thats up more than 40% compared to just a couple of months ago.

Mr. Magnus said the majority of people caught at the border were quickly expelled under the pandemic health emergency order that the Trump administration implemented and which the Biden administration has kept largely in place.

Among the worrying signs in the data was the number of migrant children traveling without parents. The Border Patrol reported catching 11,810, a 37% increase over January, reversing what had been one of the few bright spots on the border.

Agents caught about 25,000 parents and children traveling as families, down about half compared to December.

Other yardsticks of border security also trended in the wrong direction, with heroin seizures spiking 173% in February. Cocaine seizures were up 83%, and methamphetamine seizures rose 97%. But fentanyl, which has been shattering records, actually dropped 21%.

Authorities say increases in people and drugs being seized means more people and drugs are getting through.

Sen. Rob Portman, the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said he was alarmed by the trend line.

He was worried by the surge in drugtrafficking, which is costing a record number of lives.

This crisis is a direct result of the Biden administrations policy choices, Mr. Portman said.

The Border Patrol has tallied nearly 2.2 million arrests at the southern border since President Biden took office.

By contrast, during the same 13-month period in President Trumps term, agents recorded only about 272,000 arrests.

And before Mr. Biden, it had been 15 years since the U.S. last recorded even a single month with more than 150,000 apprehensions. February marked the 12th straight month of CBP encounters exceeding 150,000.

RJ Hauman, head of government relations at the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said the Biden administration has made mass illegal migration the new normal.

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Mexicans surged as illegal immigration on border rose in February - Washington Times

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Progressive House Democrats are calling on President Biden to take a number of executive actions relating to immigration, including expanding protections from deportation, ending the Title 42 public health order, and limiting detention for those who come into the country illegally.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus issued a list of recommendations for executive actions for Biden to take on everything from healthcare to student loans, as much of their agenda has been stalled with a slim House majority and a 50-50 Senate that frequently requires 60 votes to pass legislation.

DHS PUTS OUT CALL FOR EMPLOYEES TO VOLUNTEER AT SOUTHERN BORDER AMID LARGE NUMBERS OF MIGRANTS

Democrats made multiple attempts last year to pass sweeping immigration measures, including amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants already in the country. Those efforts failed last year, and activists and progressives are instead turning their focus to the executive branch.

The agenda gives a list of 18 countries that it recommends for either Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) -- which grants protection from deportation to nationals from countries hit by either armed ongoing conflict, environmental disasters or "extraordinary and temporary conditions.

The U.S. Capitol Dome is silhouetted against the rising sun, Friday, April 30, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/J. David Ake) (AP Photo/J. David Ake)

Many of those are already listed for TPS, but the recommendations would add Mexico and Guatemala -- El Salvador and Honduras are already designated -- meaning that nationals from some of the top sources of illegal immigration across the southern border would be protected from deportation. It would also add Ethiopia, Mauritania and Cameroon.

The caucus also calls for the removal of "nonpriority cases" from the immigration court backlog, additional government-funded legal counsel, and the end of expedited removal proceedings.

The Democrats also urge the White House to stop further use of private detention facilities, and instead focus on "alternatives to detention" run by "non-profit community-based organizations."

They also call for the end of Title 42 public health protections which have been used by both the Trump and Biden administrations to remove illegal immigrants at the border due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Top Democrats including Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, have also called for such a move -- despite fears it will lead to a new surge in migrants at the border.

DEMS CALL FOR BIDEN TO END TITLE 42 BORDER PROTECTIONS, DESPITE FEARS OF LOOMING MIGRANT SURGE

The progressives also call for the end of the Trump-era "Remain-in-Mexico" policy which keeps migrants in Mexico for their hearings. The Biden administration ended the program, but was forced to restore it by court order until it can end it via a different route. However, only a relatively small number of border crossers have been enrolled in the program so far.

The list also includes measures to "redress the harms" of the Trump-era travel restrictions on high-risk countries by allowing those rejected under the restrictions -- dubbed a "Muslim ban" by critics -- to "secure status, obtain lost green cards, and secure other basic services without additional burdens."

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Separately, the lawmakers urge Biden to issue regulations to raise wage standards and labor safeguards for the H-2B seasonal worker and H-1B skilled worker programs. Both Democrats and Republicans have raised concerns that those programs are often abused by companies to bring in foreign nationals, so they can be underpaid and exploited.

The calls by the progressive caucus come as the administration is gearing up for a potential surge in migrants at the southern border, particularly if it does end Title 42 as it is reported to be considering. DHS this week put out a call for volunteers as officials say they are dealing with "large numbers" of migrants at the border.

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House progressives urge Biden to take slew of executive actions on immigration - Fox News

Former Ohio GOP Chair Jane Timken is vowing to be Trump tough on illegal immigration and drug smugglers in a new ad for her U.S. Senate campaign.

Ms. Timken says in the 30-second Crackdown adthat on President Bidens watch illegal immigrants and drug cartels are flooding Ohio with heroin and fentanyl.

Now opioid deaths are surging again, she tells viewers. As the real Trump conservative I will fight to finish this wall, secure this board and crack down on the drug cartels.

The ad captures Ms. Timken standing at the U.S.-Mexico border wall and features a video clip of former President Donald Trump at a rally praising her as unbelievable.

I approve this message because Im Trump tough, she says.

Ms. Timken has the support of retiring Sen. Rob Portman and is hoping to land the endorsement of Mr. Trump, who has been a focal point of the GOP nomination race.

Ms. Timken is playing catch-up in the contest, according to a Fox News survey of likely GOP primary voters released this month. It showed businessman Mike Gibbons, with 22% support, and former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, with 20%, leading the pack.

Author J.D. Vance is running third, with 11%, followed by Ms. Timken, with 9%, and state Sen. Matt Dolan, with 7%.

The Ohio primary election is May 3.

The winner of the GOP contest is expected to face off against Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan in Novembers general election.

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Timken pledges to be 'Trump tough' on illegal immigration - Washington Times

As we sink under the deluge of Pillen and Herbster ads, at least a couple of sizable questions are inescapable. One, why are these two who seek the GOP gubernatorial nomination so intent on scaring Republican primary voters about immigration? Two, will the demagoguery on this non-issue be rewarded by voters?

Even a cursory glance at a map confirms Nebraskas geographical position hundreds of miles removed from any national border. The most minimal familiarity with the Constitution of the United States and concepts of federalism confirms the federal governments sole authority to determine and enforce immigration laws. And candidates scaremongering on this issue can only be interpreted to mean that the Biden administrations purported failures related to immigration are not being adequately redressed by Nebraskas current governor, something Pete Ricketts would surely dispute vigorously.

What, pray tell, do these two seeking to be our next state chief executive think they are going to do: build a big, beautiful wall circling our states borders? How will the gates at the ends of Interstate 80 and I-76 work, and will there be a tunnel for the water flowing through the canal to be built to bring South Platte River water into Nebraska?

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The absurdity of what these candidates assert is as laughable as the cartoonlike posturing dominating their ads, but the pervasiveness of the sloganeering suggests that there must be something legitimate about it. There isnt. State governments have zero authority to legislate or enforce national immigration law. Even the most authoritarian governor has no role based in law on issues of immigration. Any wisdom that could be gleaned from experiences of governors whose states are near a national border has no application to Nebraska, firmly ensconced midcountry.

Well, there is crime, right? Wrong. In a study of crimes committed in 2018 in Texas, the only state that maintains immigration status records of those who are arrested, the illegal immigrant conviction rate was 782 per 100,000 illegal immigrants, 535 per 100,000 legal immigrants, and 1,422 per 100,000 native-born Americans. Illegal immigrants had a conviction rate 45% less than native-born citizens, and legal immigrants conviction rate was about one-third of that of native-born citizens. Other studies on the topic widely confirm the conclusion: Native-born Americans commit crimes at much higher rates than either legal or illegal immigrants.

Here in Nebraska, we are experiencing historically low unemployment rates. Employers simply cannot find enough people to do the work that is here to be done now. The same conditions exist regionally and, to varying degrees, across our country. And our national birth rate is insufficient to replenish the labor supply.

In the three decades plus of my legal practice, I have had the pleasure of representing scores of immigrants. In my 56 years plus of life, I have been blessed to know hundreds of immigrants, including my paternal grandmother. Generally speaking, my experience is that immigrants are as hardworking, family loving, law abiding, taxpaying and American dreaming as we who had the good fortune to be born in this country.

So just who are these immigrants that we are supposed to be so afraid of? Where are the facts that support the assertion that this is a problem in Nebraska? Or is it just that many immigrants do not speak, look and worship the way we do? Herbsters and Pillens insistence that immigrants are some sort of boogeymen to be feared, persecuted and deported is as erroneous as it is offensive.

We need workers. Immigration must be part of the solution. But elected federal office holders have refused, for decades and across Republican and Democrat administrations alike, to seriously address immigration policy. In the meantime, candidates even for offices that have nothing to do with immigration, like governorships disingenuously raise immigration as some sinister proposition, a scare-tactic point of divisiveness, only driving deeper the wedge of deceit on this issue that cries out for thoughtful resolution.

What if voters quit rewarding candidates who defame immigrants and use the issue only to seek political advantage? What progress might be made if Republican primary voters reject Pillen and Herbster and instead select Brett Lindstrom? What will it say about Republican primary voters if they dont?

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Paloucek: What's behind focus on immigration in the governor's race? - North Platte Telegraph

Lawmakers are wrangling with legislation backed by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt to prohibit municipal governments from adopting rules that block cooperation with federal authorities investigating illegal immigrants.

Schmidt initiated the push for a ban on sanctuary cities in response to action by the Unified Government of Kansas City/Wyandotte County to authorize the issuance of photo identification cards to undocumented people to improve access to public services. The Safe and Welcoming City Act was structured so the ID information wouldnt be shared with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Opponents of the legislation outnumbered supporters 64-7 during a hearing Tuesday in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. Alejandro Rangel-Lopez, lead coordinator for the New Frontiers Project, a group in southwest Kansas working to empower people of color, described his family history with immigration and the importance of having communities where immigrants can feel safe.

Rangel-Lopez said that while proponents may claim the bill does not target legal immigrants, many with mixed-status families would suffer.

It should be clear to you now that this is not a game. The choices you make as a legislator have very real impacts on the lives of people like me and my family, Rangel-Lopez said. Listen to us when we tell you this will have insidious effects on crime reporting in immigrant communities. Listen to us when we tell you that your decisions dont exist in a vacuum.

Under House Bill 2717, local units of government would be unable to adopt any ordinance, resolution, rule or policy that would interfere with law enforcement cooperation in immigration enforcement actions. In Wyandotte County, law enforcement officials said they hadnt joined ICE agents on immigration raids for years.

As of 2021, 12 states have enacted state-level laws prohibiting or restricting sanctuary jurisdictions. The Kansas Legislature has considered legislation to prohibit sanctuary cities across the state on several occasions, but none has passed.

Schmidt, a Republican candidate for governor, said Kansas required such a law to ensure the entire state can be safe and welcoming to immigrants.

That worthy goal cannot be properly accomplished through a patchwork process of local jurisdictions deciding to prohibit their local law enforcement agencies from cooperating or even communicating with federal authorities, nor can that be accomplished by issuing to non-citizens new local-government identification cards that lack basic anti-fraud and anti-abuse safeguards built into state law, Schmidt said.

The measure also would forbid municipal governments from issuing ID cards to people not lawfully residing in the United States that were designed to satisfy identification requirements set in state law. Any of these cards would read Not valid for state ID.

Violating the proposed statute would be considered ID fraud under state criminal law.

While the Kansas Secretary of States Office supported the bill, a representative of the office urged legislators to address a potential conflict between state laws on the use of ID cards that could result in voter confusion and litigation.

It is the firm position of the Kansas Secretary of State that only United States citizens may vote in an election, said Clay Barker, deputy assistant secretary of state. Requiring voter identification to cast a ballot ensures the protection of voters rights and the integrity of the electoral process.

Opponents of the bill said it was late in session to be passing such significant legislation.

Aileen Berquist, a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said proponents were narrow sighted in their approach as the bill would not only instill fear but undermine local authority to make the best decisions for their communities. She said it would also force an unfunded mandate on municipal governments by forcing them to engage in potentially unconstitutional immigration enforcement activities.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers are not arrest warrants, Berquist said, but instead are notifications to local law enforcement that ICE intends to assume custody of an individual.

Courts have repeatedly found that ICE detainers deny due process and do not comply with the fundamental protections required by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Berquist said. Multiple courts have held that the Fourth Amendment does not permit state or local officers who generally lack civil immigration enforcement authority to imprison people based on ICE detainers alone. But that is precisely what (the bill) demands that cities and counties do.

This story was originally published on the Kansas Reflector.

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Immigrants speak against Kansas bill banning sanctuary cities: 'This will have insidious effects' - KCUR