Texas Sheriffs Sue Biden Admin Over ICE Restrictions

Some Texas sheriffs plus some  Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers filed suit against the Biden administration. They called out the federal government for restricting them from deporting illegal immigrants.

RELATED: Texas Border Crisis is a REAL PROBLEM

Texas Sheriffs From Border Counties

Texas sheriffs from the border counties of Kinney, Edwards, McMullen, and Hudspeth joined forces with some ICE officers. They accused the Biden administration of violating federal immigration law. They did so by imposing restrictions on ICE operations.

The suit focused on specific orders that limited what they can do to defend the border. It recognizes President Joe Biden's pledge for a more humane approach to immigration. This action contrasts with the harsher policies of former President Donald Trump.

Biden Admin Memo Severely Restricted ICE From Doing It Jobs

Specifically, the Biden administration issued a memo last February 18. This ordered ICE to focus on deporting immigrants with specific criminal charges.  These include those labeled as national security or terrorist threats or gang members. ICE can also deport people convicted of aggravated felonies.

The directive left officers unable to deport immigrants with cases outside these categories. They include those convicted of human trafficking and drug smuggling. In addition, officers must secure permission from bosses before processing deportation.

Human Traffickers and Drug Smugglers Go Scot-Free

The Texas sheriffs and ICE officers said that the memo prevented them from doing their jobs. The memo also went against the mandates of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Specifically, the INA requires detaining aliens convicted of certain crimes. 

Apart from aggravated felonies, this includes crimes of moral turpitude. More importantly, it also includes serious crimes involving drugs. It also includes those tied to human trafficking, money laundering, and firearms violations.

Biden Functionally Abolished the ICE

In May, ICE officials accused the Biden administration of functionally abolishing the agency.  The government restricted its operations so much by limiting what it can do. These restrictions led to ICE officers making fewer arrests.

Now, the agency carries out less than 3,000 deportations a month. With 6,000 officers on record, the agency's 6,000 officers average a single arrest every two months.

However, many Democrats still want to put a stop to the agency's existence. Thankfully, the Biden White House didn’t cave into progressive demands.

But, they did put officers on a very tight leash in matters such as deportation. Biden may not have dissolved the agency, but he did place the agency on probation.

Less Facilities And Deportations

As a result, deportations plummeted, while Texas sheriffs can only look in anger. Even as the southern US border is currently registering 20-year highs in illegal border crossings, policymakers and advocacy groups continue to push for fewer detention facilities and reduced deportation proceedings.

Watch the Washington Examiner report where Texas sheriffs & ICE officers sue Biden over restrictions:

Do you agree that the Biden administration basically made ICE useless? Do you think that fewer deportations are what the country needs, especially for the southern border states?

Tell us what you think of Biden’s border and immigration policies in the southern states. Share your thoughts below.