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Press Release

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Statement on Central American 'Caravan'

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

Attorney General Jeff Sessions today issued the following statement on the Central American 'Caravan':

 

“Pockets of the original, so-called ‘migrant caravan,’ which press reports indicate consists mostly of Honduran nationals, have begun to arrive at our southern border with the intent of claiming asylum. These individuals—and their smugglers—ignored the willingness of the Mexican government to allow them to stay in Mexico.

 

“Let today’s message be clear: our nation has the most generous immigration system in the world, but this is a deliberate attempt to undermine our laws and overwhelm our system. There is no right to demand entry without justification. Smugglers and traffickers and those who lie or commit fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

“Promoting and enforcing the rule of law is essential to protecting a nation, its borders, and its citizens. But, as President Trump has warned, the need to fix these loopholes and weaknesses in our immigration system is critical and overdue.

 

“Accordingly, I have directed our U.S. Attorneys at the border to take whatever immediate action to ensure that we have sufficient prosecutors available. I have also directed that we commit any additional necessary immigration judges to adjudicate any cases that may arise from this ‘caravan.’”

Updated April 24, 2018

Topic
Immigration