Explaining Why 'Partially Detained' Aliens Are More Likely to Abscond
The weakness in the expedited-removal system, and laws related to UACs
By Andrew R. Arthur on January 8, 2021
In my last post, I analyzed takeaways from the "Fiscal Year 2020 Enforcement Lifecycle Report", issued by DHS on December 31 (available from DHS here and to download from the CIS site here). One fact stuck out: Aliens encountered by CBP at the Southwest border who were detained and later released (described as "partially detained" aliens) were repatriated at a lower rate than aliens who had never been detained, and had a higher rate of pending in absentia orders of removal as well. There are likely many reasons, but the main two are weaknesses in the expedited-removal system, and the laws dealing with unaccompanied alien children (UAC).
Findings of the Lifecycle Report
The report tracked the status as of March 31, 2020, of more than 3.5 million "encounters" (Border Patrol apprehensions and determinations of inadmissibility by CBP officers at the ports of entry along the Southwest border) between FY 2014 and FY 2019, as those aliens' cases have wended their way through the immigration system.
Some of those aliens had been repatriated (via removal, return, or voluntary departure), some were still in proceedings before the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), some had been granted relief or protection, and some were under final orders of removal but had not departed the United States.
https://cis.org/Arthur/Explaining-Why-Partially-Detained-Aliens-Are-More-Likely-Abscond
