Tens of thousands of family members caught crossing the border illegally earlier this year subsequently failed to meet with federal immigration agents as they were told, the Homeland Security Department has acknowledged privately.An official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed that about 70 percent of immigrant families the Obama administration had released into the U.S. didn�'t show up weeks later for follow-up appointments.
Got their voters registration card and skedaddled.
The Ay-Pee reported in June that the administration would not say publicly how many Central American immigrant families caught crossing into the U.S. it had released in recent months or how many of those had reported back to the government after 15 days as directed. The Ay-Pee noted that senior U.S. officials directly familiar with the issue, including at the Homeland Security Department and White House, had dodged the answer at least seven times in two weeks. They would say they did not know the figure or didn�'t have it at hand.
That the media did not press the issues does not surprise me. That they asked seven times *does* surprise me.
The Homeland Security Department�'s public affairs office during the same period did not answer roughly a dozen requests for the figures.
Immigration advocates have complained that the new detention centers were punishing immigrants who ultimately may win lawful asylum claims to remain in the U.S. In the meeting, they also questioned whether immigration officials had clearly and properly instructed immigrants to meet with federal agents within 15 days.
Too many restriction on folks - and their families - who just want to come here for the rest of their lives.
The ICE official said it was necessary to detain families to ensure they didn�'t vanish into the U.S.
Well, it a little late for that, isn't it.