Trump administration officials contend that targeting families — oftentimes without criminal records other than immigration violations — is necessary to deter more people from coming.
The plan calls for $116 million to pay for another 6,800 or so detention beds and to transport asylum seekers.
But to make that happen without Congress’s approval, it would have to transfer money away from other programs, including nearly $14 million from federal air marshals and $4.3 million for cybersecurity.
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While $116 million would go toward beds and transportation, another $155 million would go toward helping the administration implement its “Remain in Mexico” policy. That policy has required that more than 15,000 people are required to wait in Mexico while their immigration case winds its way thru court. The Trump administration says that DHS wants to set up “stand-up temporary immigration hearing facilities along the southwest border” to hold hearings for these migrants.
“Because of the court backlog and the impact of outdated laws and court decisions, many of these individuals have disappeared into the country before a judge denies their claim and simply become fugitives,” the document states. “Until these underlying factors are resolved, DHS is concerned that these trends could continue and potential out-year operational costs will impact future appropriations.”
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
