DHS provides clarity on Trump’s Executive Order on immigration

In the wake of President Trump’s Executive Order regarding interior enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a “fact sheet” aimed at providing clarity to the order as enforcement is carried out.

The Executive Order, titled Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States, directs DHS and agencies under its jurisdiction to make use of all available resources to enforce established federal law and remove migrants who have been ordered to be removed. The order also gives the victims and families of victims of crimes perpetrated by removable migrants support from DHS.

The department said the order directs it not to exempt any classes or categories of removable migrants from potential enforcement and that those in violation of the nation’s immigration laws may be subject to enforcement proceedings.

DHS will also be establishing an office Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office, which creates a liaison to facilitate engagement with the victims and their families to ensure they are provided with information about the offender, including the perpetrator’s immigration and custody statuses.

The department will also be hiring an additional 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and officers to help effectively enforce the laws related to mission support and legal staff.

In addition to physical immigration enforcement, DHS will also establish programs to collect authorized civil fines and penalties from removable migrants and from those who facilitate their lawful presence in the country.