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Following the landmark joint communiqu between the Prime Ministers of Albania and the UK on tackling illegal migration, operational teams in the UK and Albania have intensified operational work to address illegal migration, particularly the small boat crossings in the English Channel.

The UK and Albanian authorities have been working together to make it more difficult for illegal migrants to arrive and stay in the UK. Since the communiqu was agreed, new figures show that over 1,000 Albanian nationals have been returned to Albania. This figure is a combination of failed asylum seekers, foreign national offenders and voluntary returns and covers the period from agreement of the joint communiqu on 13 December up to the first week in April.

UK and Albanian operational teams have set up a joint migration task force, which serves as the main gateway to coordinate specialised operational measures and actions to manage illegal migration of Albanian citizens to the UK.

These include reinforced checks on free movement criteria at all border crossing points across the country, increased verifications on Albanian citizens who are found to be illegally in the territory of the UK, and exchange of senior-level police officers in both countries.

Head of the Albanian Border and Migration Police, Saimir Boshnjaku, said:

We are working hand in hand with our British colleagues under the joint migration task force to prevent irregular migration to the UK and related crimes.

The Border and Migration Police urges all citizens to follow the legal way of migration and assures that all persons breaking the law will face the consequences.

UK Director General of Immigration Enforcement, Tony Eastaugh, said:

These numbers are evidence that our partnership with the government of Albania to speed up the removal of those with no legal right to be in the UK is working.

As we intensify this activity further, Albanian nationals who enter the UK illegally and have no right to be here should be under no illusion that we will remove them as quickly as possible.

In 2022, there were 1,888 returns of Albanian nationals, of which 954 (51%) were enforced returns and 934 (49%) were voluntary returns. The number of voluntary returns is 90% higher than in 2021 (492). This is a new and encouraging trend, which we have seen continue into 2023. Already in 2023, from January to March, 795 Albanian nationals have been returned. Of these, 389 (49%) were enforced returns and 406 (51%) were voluntary returns.These operations are expected to intensify further in the upcoming months.

The Border and Migration Police of Albania and the UK Home Office are determined to put a stop toillegal migration which seriously impedes the prosperity and safety of citizens and enables criminality, exploitation and other forms of illegality.

The UKs latest illegal migration statistics, published this morning (Monday 24 April) and covering a range of nationalities, also show that:

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Milestone reached in UK-Albania agreement on illegal migration - GOV.UK

US Border Patrol agents made more than 50,000 arrests in one week - with over 1400lbs of drugs being recovered.

Chief Raul Ortiz shared images of the latest busts on to his Twitter page and laid bare the ongoing crisis at the borders.

On Friday he said: 'Week in review. 1 agent assaulted, 51,560 apprehensions, 16,985 approx gotaways, $31,000 seized, 614lbs cocaine, 540lbs marijuana, 246lbs meth, 54lbs fentanyl, 19lbs heroin, 10 firearms, 17 sex offenders, 5 gang members. Impressive work!'

Images attached by the Chief shows large quantities of drugs that have been bundled together as well a piles of dollar bills.

According to the Chief, these statistics are for the entire border patrol, including the southern, northern and coastal borders.

Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez, who operates agents along the Gulf of Mexico and the border along the Rio Grande also shared an update on their efforts over the weekend.

Taking to Twitter, Agent Chavez said they had dealt with 6,371 encounters, 10 smuggling cases, arrested 11 principals, one sex offender and two gang members as well as one water rescue and had recovered 60lbs of cocaine.

She also said that one agent had been assaulted over the weekend.

Statistics published by the U.S Customs and Border Protection show that in March of this year there was 257,910 nationwide encounters across all borders.

The figures for March brought the total number of encounters in the U.S. to 1,544,087 this year.

Current trends could see the total number of crossings break last years record of 2.76 million.

It comes after the Biden administration said they would be setting up migrant processing centers in Central and South America in an attempt to expedite deportations and further deter illegal immigration to the U.S.

The first centers will be located in Colombia and Guatemala, which are two countries that have developed key choke-points for those attempting to transit through in order to migrate to the U.S.

President Biden has also authorized the Army Reserves to deploy to the southern border as pandemic-era Title 42 is set to expire in two weeks.

Title 42 allowed for the expedited expulsion of migrants from the U.S. in the midst of the public health emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials were able to use this policy in more than 2.7 million instances since March 2020 while processing migrants' asylum claims.

But now that there is no longer a health emergency in the U.S., the policy is set to end on May 11.

Republicans and border policy hawks have been highly critical of the program coming to an end, claiming there is no alternative to make sure the southern border is not overrun and even more overwhelmed once Title 42 expires.

Internal projections show that migration at the southern border could spike by a whopping 10,000 to 13,000 per day when the policy comes to an end next month.

Another method of deterring unlawful crossings after Title 42's end is the Biden administration working to finalize a rule to disqualify migrants from asylum if they did not seek humanitarian protection in a country they had to traverse to get to the U.S. and then entered the country illegally.

Currently, migrants who illegally cross the southern border to claim asylum are many times released into the country to await a decision on their asylum claims.

This has led to millions without legal status disappearing into the country after release from Customs and Border Protection custody.

The administration also announced it is expanding a program that allows migrants to come to the U.S. if they have family members who are citizens or permanent residents.

While the current policy only applies to Haitian and Cuban migrants, the expanded version would also allow for citizens from Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras to participate in the family reunification program.

Last month, 3,000 immigrants started trekking through Mexicoas a large group to push towards the U.S southern border.

The asylum-seeking caravan had threatened to block roads or cause self-injuries unless the Mexican government agreed to meetings or supply buses that would transport them to the capital.

They had hopes of reaching Mexico City where they planned to pressure officials to provide them with exit visas that would allow them to continue to the United States.

In February of this year, Border Patrol agentstestified before a government committee that the amount of fentanyl seized at the southern border was enough to kill nearly five times the population of the U.S.

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Border chief reveals they made over 50,000 arrests in just one week and seized over 1400lbs of drugs - Daily Mail

The Texas Senate has passed a bill that would impose jail time on illegal aliens entering thestate.

SB 2424 authorizes Texas law enforcement to arrest and prosecute all people who cross the border illegally anywhere in Texas. Punishment starts with up to one year in jail for a first-time offender, two years in state jail for a second-time offender and up to life in prison for convicted felons who illegally cross theborder.

Brent Smith, prosecutor in rural Kinney County, which fronts the Rio Grande, told FAIR in an interview thisweek:

The violence and lawlessness occurring along the southern border is not sustainable for any sovereign state. While critics of border security solutions are always eager to condemn the effort, they never propose any feasible solutions of their own. SB 2424 would help bring law and order to the border region and safeguard the safety and security ofTexans.

Smith has used existing state law to prosecute illegal aliens on trespassing charges. But such charges are contingent on cooperation of affected landowners. Lawmakers believe SB 2424 would give the state a stronger tool to deter and apprehendmigrants.

If the measure becomes law, Texas can expect the Biden administrationto immediately challenge it as a breach of Arizona v. United States.

If the bill passes I think its going to be found impermissible pursuant to the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Arizona, which found that immigration is a pre-empted field in which the states have only limited authority to legislate, says Matt OBrien, director of investigations for the Immigration Reform Law Institute(IRLI).

A decade later the U.S.-Mexico border is wide open, and Texas is bearing the brunt of historic, unending waves of illegal migration. Over the past three years, Texas has spent more than $4 billion on border security through its Operation Lone Star and the state is increasingly pressing the edge of the legalenvelope.

Most recently, Gov. Greg Abbott authorized the Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety to start returning migrants to ports of entry. The state is also building its own border barricades and legislation creating a Border Protection Unit ispending.

At the end of the day, SB 2424 is designed to create a deterrent to those who unlawfully enter Texas, Smith says. In creating that deterrent, it is crucial that funding exists for the arrest, prosecution and confinement [of illegal aliens]. With all three elements of the deterrent present, SB 2424 has the potential to be very effective in securing the safety and security ofTexans.

With the federal Title 42 health order expiring next month, Texas is bracing for yet more waves of migrants crossing the Rio Grande. As long as Washington fails to enforce Americas immigration laws, legislation along the lines of SB 2424 will keep cropping up however long their legal odds may be. In the end, Texas is left with few options in the face of the Biden administrations refusal to uphold federal immigrationlaw.

Link:
Texas Bill Will Put Illegal Border Crossers Behind Bars Or Will It? - Federation for American Immigration Reform

On 08 March 2023, the government proposed the new Illegal Migration Bill in an attempt to stoppeople coming to the UK 'unlawfully' by 'unsafe andillegal routes' such as on small boats crossing the channel.This article will provide an overview of the Illegal MigrationBill's purpose, its main provisions and its legality.

The Illegal Migration Bill, or the 'Stop the BoatsBill', is one of the government's latest measures to reduce'unlawful migration' to the UK, following the introductionof the Rwanda policy, the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, the primeminister's statement on illegal migration and the recentintroduction of the Streamlined Asylum Questionnaire.

The Illegal Migration Bill is a proposal for a new law whichaims to deter 'unlawful migration' by 'irregular'or 'unsafe and illegal routes': the bill aims to preventpeople coming to the UK for example in the back of lorries or onsmall boats without having leave to enter the UK before or uponarrival.

This bill proposes to prevent those entering the UK in this wayfrom being able to claim asylum or other forms of leave in the UK.Instead, the Secretary of State would have a duty to remove suchpeople to their home country or a safe third country, such asRwanda, and could detain them in the process. The bill would bansuch people from having permission to enter or remain in the UK orobtaining British citizenship in the future.

The bill is currently at the report stage in the House ofCommons and is not yet law. It may still be amended before beingenacted. If enacted, it will apply retrospectively. As will beaddressed below, much like the Rwanda policy, the legality of theIllegal Migration Bill is likely to be challenged in thecourts.

The current version of the Illegal Migration Bill makesprovision for and/or about:

Each of these will be dealt with in turn below.

Removal of Persons who Have Entered or Arrived in Breachof Immigration Control

The Illegal Migration Bill imposes a duty on the Secretary ofState to make arrangements for the removal of people who enter theUK in breach of immigration control as soon as is reasonablypracticable after their entry, subject to limited exceptions.

This duty automatically applies where a person meets thefollowing four conditions:

This duty does not automatically apply to unaccompaniedchildren, some victims of slavery and human trafficking or whereother exceptions apply. See below.

A person may be removed to a country and/or territory:

A national from a country defined by the bill as a safe thirdcountry cannot be removed to that country where they have made anasylum and/or human rights claim in relation to that country underexceptional circumstances. Nationals from other countries cannot beremoved to their home countries; they can only be removed to safethird countries.

A person will be given notice of their removal and of thecountry to which they will be removed, prior to their removal. Theycan only be removed after their time to challenge their removal hasexpired.

This removal duty could also apply to their dependent familymembers who do not have leave to enter or remain in the UK, are nota British or Irish citizen and do not have the right of abode in the UK.

Detention for Immigration Purposes

A person may be detained where:

A person of any age could be detained anywhere as consideredappropriate by the Secretary of State, for a period which theSecretary of State deems reasonably necessary to enable a decisionto be made on their case or their removal to be carried out. Familymembers subject to the removal duty may also be detained. There arelimitations on the detention of children and pregnant women.

The bill allows applications for immigration bail after 28 days.

Unaccompanied Children

Although the removal duty does not automatically apply tounaccompanied children, the Secretary of State may makearrangements for their removal. The removal duty applies as soon asa person ceases to be an unaccompanied child, for example when theyturn 18.

Victims of Slavery or Human Trafficking

This bill proposes to disapply protections and entitlements toassistance and support which are available to victims of modernslavery or human trafficking. This includes the prohibition onremoving or requiring such people to leave the UK.

Leave to Enter or Remain, Settlement andCitizenship

The Illegal Migration Bill effectively bans people who have evermet the four conditions for removal, and in some cases their familymembers, from ever being granted entry clearance, leave to enter,leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

People who have met these conditions may only be granted suchleave if necessary to comply with the Secretary of State'sobligations under the European Convention on Human Rights or otherinternational treaty to which the UK is a party, or in compellingcircumstances, if appropriate.

Similarly, people who have ever met the four conditions forremoval are not entitled to British citizenship. No exceptionsapply. Their children could also be prevented from obtainingBritish citizenship if born in the UK on or after 07 March2023.

Inadmissibility of Certain Protection and Human RightsClaims

The removal duty applies regardless of whether a person has madean asylum or protection, human rights, victim of slavery or humantrafficking claim or an application for judicial review in relation to their removalfrom the UK under this act. In such circumstances, their asylum orprotection and/or human rights claim would be deemed inadmissible and could not be considered underthe immigration rules. No right of appeal would arise from aninadmissibility decision.

Maximum Number of Persons Entering the UK Annually UsingSafe and Legal Routes

The Illegal Migration Bills provides for the introduction of acap on the number of persons who may enter the UK annually using'safe and legal' routes. These would be the only routesopen to those seeking asylum in the UK.

Removal can be challenged on the basis of exceptionalcircumstances, as addressed above. Refusals of challenges made onthis basis cannot be appealed but could be challenged by judicialreview. The removal duty continues to apply throughout suchchallenges.

Alternatively, removal can be challenged on the basis of seriousirreversible harm, within 7 days of being given notice of removal.A decision will need to be made on such a challenge within 3 days.The duty to remove is suspended during this process. If successful,the duty will resume but removal will not be carried out. A changein circumstances may restart this process. An unsuccessful decisioncould be challenged, however the bill restricts the ways in whichthis could be done. Removal can also be challenged on the groundsof a factual mistake.

The Illegal Migration Bill severely limits challenges todetention, including by way of judicial review.

Pursuant to the Human Rights Act 1998, all legislation in the UKmust be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.However, the Illegal Migration Bill contains a clause whichdisapplies section 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and indicatesthat the bill may not be compatible with this convention.

Further, the bill creates challenges such as the fact thatpeople will need to claim asylum from outside the UK, many peopleto whom the removal duty will apply will not be able to be removeddue to a lack of safe third countries willing to receive them andthrough the introduction of a cap on such migration. Much like theRwanda policy, it is likely that this bill will be challenged inthe courts.

The content of this article is intended to provide a generalguide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be soughtabout your specific circumstances.

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What Is The New Illegal Migration Bill 2023? - General Immigration ... - Mondaq News Alerts

On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcementheld an oversight hearing on the Biden Administrations handling of unaccompanied alien children (UACs). The Committees focus was examining the unprecedentedsurge of unaccompanied alien children at the southwest border and how open-border policies enable the exploitation of thosechildren.

The United States has seen more than a 330 percent surge in average monthly Border Patrol (BP) apprehensions of UACs under the Biden Administration.Total apprehensionswent from about 4,000 a month to more than 13,000, while annual apprehensions increased from 30,557 in fiscal year 2020 to 149,093 in fiscal year2022.

According to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), the office that oversees the UAC program, anywhere from 70-80 percent of UACs encountered in the last ten years are over 15 years of age, while over the same period about 70% of UACs encountered are male. Some of the UACs encountered over the last decade are even members of criminalgangs.

The Committee heard from several witnesses,including:

Tara Lee Rodas, the whistleblower who was sent to the border under the Biden Administration to help unite children with sponsors, told Congress, [w]hether intentional or not, it can be argued that the U.S. Government has become the middleman in a large scale, multi-billion dollar, child trafficking operation run by bad actors seeking to profit off the lives ofchildren.

Jessica Vaughan, a policy expert on unaccompanied children, recommended that Congress take action to close loopholes in the law that allows children to be released to smugglers, traffickers, and employers who illegally employ the children. Specifically, she advised that Congress amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) to swiftly repatriate children who have been screened for trafficking and found not to be at risk if returned. She also suggested that Congress robustly fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to boost its anti-trafficking efforts and increase worksiteenforcement.

Bob Carey, the Democrats witness and former head of ORR, did not have any suggestions for slowing the flow of children crossing the border alone but recommended that the agency provide more post-release services to unaccompanied children. Democrat leaders also applauded ORR for announcing an audit of UAC sponsors at a House Oversight hearing last week, where the head of ORR said that it was conducting an ongoing, concurrent review of current vetting requirements for potential sponsors who have previously sponsored unaccompanied children. It should be noted, however, that ORRs review is limited in scope, only reviewing individuals who have sponsored children in the past rather than reviewing all vetting requirements and determining how to strengthen those requirements across the board for everysponsor.

Wednesdays hearing was led by Chairman Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), who pointed out how President Biden on his first day in office terminated critical policies like Remain in Mexico and finishing the border wall. This, McClintock said, produced the largest illegal mass migration in history, and only encouraged more migrants to come. He finished by arguing that, a large majority of so-called unaccompanied children are late teenagers or young men claiming to beminors.

Congressman Chip Roy (R-Texas) asked witnesses if they were proud of the system and the fact that more than 356,000 unaccompanied children have entered the country since President Biden took office. He said, [s]omehow, in the greatest country in the world, we think this is a system we shoulddefend.

The hearing can be viewed by clicking here.

See the original post here:
Congress Holds Hearing on Exploited Unaccompanied Alien Children - Federation for American Immigration Reform