The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), working in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilitated removal flights to several Caribbean countries on November 30.
These included single adults and family units to countries in Central America, Cape Verde, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and Liberia.
ICE said that during each of the past two weeks, they conducted over thirty repatriation flights transporting thousands of individuals back to their country of origin and have repatriated over five thousand individuals directly to Mexico.
“Noncitizens who lack a lawful basis to stay in the United States will be removed, consistent with U.S. law,” ICE said in a statement. “This applies to all noncitizens, regardless of nationality, to ensure the orderly and humane processing, transfer, and removal of single adults and family units.”
It also added that noncitizens placed into removal proceedings present their claims for relief or protection from removal before immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review.
“Due to operational security reasons, ICE does not confirm or discuss future or pending transportation operations,” it said in the statement.
During 2022, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted 72,177 removals to more than 150 countries worldwide.
Immigrants urged to explore legal pathways
Authorities have urged those seeking entry into the United States to explore the many legal pathways to enter offered by the government.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has led the largest expansion of lawful pathways in decades, and continues to enforce consequences, including removal to their home country, for those who do not use these pathways to come to the United States,” said Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo. “Do not listen to the lies of smugglers. Individuals who cross unlawfully won’t be eligible for these lawful pathways and will be removed if they have no legal basis to remain.”
Her statement was echoed by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Executive Associate Director Corey Price who said: “There are consequences for migrants who cross our borders unlawfully and do not pursue lawful pathways to the United States. In accordance with U.S. law, we will continue to repatriate noncitizens back to their home country who do not have a legal basis to remain in the United States.”
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