The Biden Administration Considers Texas as Potential Location for Migrant Families

The Biden administration is considering a change that would require migrant families who entered the U.S. illegally to stay near the border in Texas while their asylum application is being reviewed, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

This change is being considered in response to the high number of families crossing the border in July. While Border Patrol estimated the number to be over 60,000, The Washington Post reported last week that the number was closer to 91,000 families, which would be a record.

The administration believes that by tracking and restricting their movements within the country, they can quickly deport those families who do not pass the asylum screenings. They also see this as a potential deterrent, according to the Times.

One of the reasons behind this program is that it is difficult to apprehend and deport families residing in the interior of the country, the Times reported.

The migrants would be monitored using GPS devices, and local organizations would assist in housing them during the waiting time for their hearing, as stated by the Times. Other border states beyond Texas are also being considered.

Currently, the Family Expedited Removal Management (FERM) program imposes curfews and tracks migrant families who freely travel to large cities. The Biden administration initially hoped that this alone would discourage families from crossing the border, the Times reported.

The focus of the program would be on Central American families due to their proximity to the U.S. and the feasibility of deporting large numbers of them.

“DHS continuously holds policy and operational discussions on how to leverage our authorities to ensure a fair, humane, and effective immigration process that efficiently removes those without a lawful basis to stay in the country,” said a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, according to the Times.

If implemented, this policy would resemble the approach taken by the Reagan administration in the late 1980s, where individuals would apply for asylum at the location where they crossed the border and remain there while the asylum process unfolded.