From December 21 to March 20, ICE released around 107,000 family members into the interior of the US.
"A staggering number," Asher said.
In just one day in the Rio Grande Valley, Asher said, ICE released over 1,000 individuals.
While Asher did not have a comparison number readily available, she said, "I think we can all agree it was nowhere near this number."
Earlier this week, US Border Patrol, which polices the US land borders, took the very rare step of releasing migrant families directly from its custody with notices to appear in court -- something that hasn't been done since 1998, according to a DHS official.
Generally, migrants are transferred from Border Patrol custody to ICE for further processing and release or further detention.
In February, Border Patrol arrested 66,450 migrants illegally crossing the southern border, up nearly 150% from 26,666 arrests during the same month last year.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, speaking from McAllen, Texas, on Thursday, acknowledged the ongoing releases of migrant families from Border Patrol custody but denied that it was a "catch-and-release" policy.
The agency deported 66,549 undocumented immigrants in the first quarter of this year, up from 60,572 during the same period last year.
However, when asked why deportations are down from peak years, Asher said more people are "claiming fear of return to their home countries," slowing down the process.
And they are getting caught up in prolonged court cases with significant backlogs, she said.
Among those entering ICE custody in the first quarter of the year, 95,494 were apprehended by Customs and Border Protection. Only 33,941 were arrested by ICE
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/21/politics/ice-arrests-drop/index.html
"A staggering number," Asher said.
In just one day in the Rio Grande Valley, Asher said, ICE released over 1,000 individuals.
While Asher did not have a comparison number readily available, she said, "I think we can all agree it was nowhere near this number."
Earlier this week, US Border Patrol, which polices the US land borders, took the very rare step of releasing migrant families directly from its custody with notices to appear in court -- something that hasn't been done since 1998, according to a DHS official.
Generally, migrants are transferred from Border Patrol custody to ICE for further processing and release or further detention.
In February, Border Patrol arrested 66,450 migrants illegally crossing the southern border, up nearly 150% from 26,666 arrests during the same month last year.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, speaking from McAllen, Texas, on Thursday, acknowledged the ongoing releases of migrant families from Border Patrol custody but denied that it was a "catch-and-release" policy.
ICE deportations are up almost 10% from the same time last year -- primarily due to the increase in border arrests, said Asher."It's not a protocol and there's no reintroduction of catch-and-release," she said. "But we are out of detention space."
The agency deported 66,549 undocumented immigrants in the first quarter of this year, up from 60,572 during the same period last year.
However, when asked why deportations are down from peak years, Asher said more people are "claiming fear of return to their home countries," slowing down the process.
And they are getting caught up in prolonged court cases with significant backlogs, she said.
Among those entering ICE custody in the first quarter of the year, 95,494 were apprehended by Customs and Border Protection. Only 33,941 were arrested by ICE
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/21/politics/ice-arrests-drop/index.html