Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus issued the following statement today regarding the transportation of migrants to Washington, D.C.:
"The men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection work tirelessly to secure and manage the nation’s borders, prioritizing the fair and humane treatment of every person we encounter. CBP follows the law to conduct that mission.
"Individuals encountered at the border who are not subject to expulsion under Title 42 are placed into immigration enforcement proceedings according to law. As part of this process, some noncitizens are placed into expedited removal processes, while others may be issued a notice to appear at immigration proceedings and placed in Alternatives to Detention. As individuals await the outcome of their immigration proceedings, they are legally obligated to report in for the next steps in their immigration process and permitted to travel elsewhere. CBP’s close partnerships with other government and non-governmental stakeholders are essential to this effort, and to ensuring fairness, order, and humanity in the process.
"Governor Abbott is taking actions to move migrants without adequately coordinating with the federal government and local border communities. CBP has always worked closely with and supported border communities in Texas, many of which CBP personnel call home.
"We all have a shared interest in maintaining safe, orderly, and humane immigration processes, and assistance from the state should be carefully coordinated with us. "