Border Czar Tom Homan addressed reporters outside the White House on Monday, outlining a hardline shift in immigration enforcement and predicting a significant rise in deportations across the country. Homan declared that the U.S. has established the most secure border in its history, signaling a definitive halt to the practice of releasing detained individuals into the interior of the country while they await immigration hearings.

End of Catch and Release

"There's no free ride anymore," Homan stated during the brief press availability. "So if it comes to the border, you're not going to be released into the United States. It'll be removed or put in detention and have your case heard, but there's no more catch and release."

Homan added that the previous administration's policies sent a message to the world that entering the country unlawfully carried no consequences, a situation he said has now been corrected.

Efficiency in Detention

When asked about the timeline for individuals currently held in immigration facilities, Homan defended the efficiency of the current system. He stated that the average length of detention is currently 42 days, a metric he monitors closely.

To keep cases moving, the administration is actively hiring more immigration judges. According to Homan, individuals who are kept in detention receive a legal hearing within that 42-day window, whereas those who are released can wait anywhere from five to seven years for a court date. He emphasized that building up detention infrastructure is necessary to ensure faster legal resolutions.

"The average length in detention right now is what, 42 days? I look at that number everywhere… That's why it's important we build a detention infrastructure that can hold as many people as possible to get the hearings more quicker," said Homan.

Increased Enforcement

The funding for this infrastructure expansion and increased enforcement is tied to a new reconciliation package. Homan noted that deportation flights are already at a regular high, and he expects enforcement numbers to trend much higher through the remainder of the year. He cited data showing nearly 700,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records currently residing in the U.S., attributing their presence to sanctuary cities that refuse to release them to federal authorities.

With additional resources from the new spending bill, Homan promised an increase in nationwide arrest and removal operations.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.