Once again the travel industry could be affected by a new series of edicts from the Trump administration.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly issued two new memos today, mapping out a stricter enforcement of U.S. immigration laws signed by President Donald Trump's executive orders last month regarding border security and interior enforcement.
The memos were sent to the heads of several departments, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
These executive orders are separate from Trump's travel ban policy, currently on hold while they are being debated in federal court.
Among the notable plans outlined by DHS:
* Former President Obama's policy of 'catch-and-release' of any immigrants caught crossing the border illegally is over. In the memos issued, Kelly told federal agencies "We should use our detention authority to detain folks." Catch-and-release was a program that allowed undocumented immigrants who were awaiting court proceedings in the U.S. to be paroled and deported, but allowed to return to the U.S. for their court hearings.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Trump Set To Issue Travel Ban 2.0 [/READMORE]
* According to one of the memos, "Department personnel have full authority to arrest or apprehend an alien whom an immigration officers has probable cause to believe is in violation of the immigration laws. They also have full authority to initiate removal proceedings against any alien who is subject to removal under any provision of the (Immigration and Nationality Act)." More immigrants can now be returned to their home country using expedited removal, and if an immigrant cannot prove residence in the U.S. for at least two years, that person can be subject to removal.
* The administration is looking to hire 10,000 more ICE agents and 5,000 Customs and Border Control agents.
* And there is a mandate to immediately begin building the much-ballyhooed Trump campaign promise to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. "A wall along the southern border is necessary to deter and prevent the illegal entry of aliens and is a critical component of the President's overall border security strategy," according to one of the memos.
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