During Tuesday’s Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, U.S. Senator James Lankford raised questions about funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and how the Flores settlement agreement has affected Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan explained CBP was basically doing the job of ICE in handling the backlog on the Southern Border, because Congress isn’t funding ICE adequately.
Morgan also explained CBP is spending millions on temporary housing when ICE has the facilities to take in the backlog, but is being held back from intervening.
Additionally, Lankford discussed the changing tactics of the cartels to send adult males to the U.S. with infants and children who cannot speak for themselves, using the Flores agreement to release children after 20 days. Morgan says some countries simply don’t respond to criminal history checks within the 20 day period, so the adult is released with the minor. He called for a change to the law.
You can watch Lankford’s Q&A with Morgan below.
