Over 3,000 Fraudulent Family Cases Identified by Border Patrol

The Border Patrol has identified over 3,000 fraudulent family unit cases in the past six months, highlighting how U.S. immigration law deficiencies are being taken advantage of by cartels and smugglers.

“It’s very clear that the cartel and smugglers know the weaknesses in our laws. They know that family units and unaccompanied children will be released with no consequences for their illegal entries,” acting Department of Homeland Security chief, Kevin McAleenan, said at a press conference on April 17.

McAleenan, who took over as department head after Kirstjen Nielsen’s resignation, was visiting the U.S.-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. He said illegal immigrants are going to great lengths to seek asylum in the United States, by engaging in what he called child recycling rings, reported Texas Public Radio.

“The same child is brought across the border with an adult multiple times to try and gain that release that family units are required under court order,” McAleenan said.

He reiterated that the immigration system is full and again urge Congress to make changes to immigration policies, reported KVEO.

McAleenan drew attention to the seriousness of the border crisis stating that a total of more than 4,800 illegal immigrants crossed the border on April 16, which he described as “a new record for the modern era.”