Management
The Biden Team Struggled to Implement New Immigration Policies Due to Poor Interagency Coordination
The administration was looking for quick solutions to handle historic upticks in migrants crossing the border.
Oversight
Migrant Children at Fort Bliss Shelter Faced Distress, Long Release Waits
Inspector General report shows operational challenges within the Office of Refugee Resettlement and its contractor-run shelter in 2021
Management
Border Patrol Agents Cut Corners on Migrant Processing as Numbers Spiked
DHS remains ill-prepared for properly handling unusually high numbers of migrants, IG says.
Tech
Border Agency Deactivates Regional Twitter Account that Promoted Homophobic Tweet
The agency shut down the Twitter account for its West Texas regional office, saying “unauthorized and inappropriate content” was posted on the account on Saturday.
Workforce
Immigration Judges Say the FLRA Made Up Rules to Decertify Union
In its appeal in federal circuit court, the National Association of Immigration Judges accused the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s then-Republican majority of already deciding to decertify the union before considering arguments in the case.
Management
Shelter Sickness: Migrants See Health Problems Linger and Worsen While Waiting at the Border
U.S. immigration policies, an increasing number of migrants, and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the growth of the Mexican shelter system, in which people are getting sick and medical care is limited.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: Criminal Referrals at the Border and Immigration Policy
Syracuse University's Austin Kocher joins the podcast to his latest immigration research.
Workforce
An Immigration Judges Union That Was Busted by the Trump Administration Is Seeking A New Election
The National Association of Immigration Judges is pursuing two tracks to becoming recertified as a federal employee union and recognized by management at the Justice Department.
Workforce
AFGE Will Split from Its ICE Union Over Ideological Divide
A union council representing Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees has been agitating to become independent, although the move presents risks for the group.
Oversight
Border Patrol Agents Are Cleared of Striking Migrants, But Still Face Discipline for Their Harsh Actions
Four agents are facing punishment after a much publicized incident last year.
Oversight
The Justice Department is Investigating Texas’ Operation Lone Star for Alleged Civil Rights Violations
Emails obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune confirm that federal authorities are probing discrimination claims involving Gov. Greg Abbott’s multibillion-dollar border initiative.
Management
Supreme Court’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ Ruling Puts Immigration Policy in the Hands of Voters – as Long as Elected Presidents Follow the Rules
In the last decision of the term, the Supreme Court cleared a barrier for the Biden administration to end a Trump-era policy returning asylum seekers arriving in the U.S. to camps in Mexico.
Management
ICE Continues Its Streak Without a Confirmed Leader as Biden's Nominee Withdraws
The Homeland Security Department agency last had a confirmed director in 2013.
Management
Biden Announces 'Unprecedented' Federal Deployments to Crack Down on Human Smuggling
The president also vows to dramatically increase refugee resettlements from the Americas despite his administration's failures to date.
Management
The Biden Administration Begins Shifting Asylum Determinations to Federal Officers
The policy is aimed at speeding up the process and taking some work away from the severely backlogged immigration courts.
Management
Treasury Department Opens Investigation into Gov. Greg Abbott’s Use of Federal Funds for Border Mission
Texas has been using coronavirus relief money to help pay for the multibillion-dollar deployment.
Workforce
VA Downplays Its Role at the Border Amid Backlash, But Defends Potential Deployments
Republican lawmakers say tapping VA resources to confront any crisis would harm veterans.
Oversight
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Biden Administration Over Asylum Plan
The plan would overhaul the process for migrants seeking asylum, aiming to reduce the average wait time for a decision from five years to six months.
Workforce
The Biden Administration Is Confident It Has the Staff to Handle the Expected Increase of Migrants at the Border
DHS is hiring contractors, deploying staff and engaging with other agencies, but says it will not sacrifice any part of its mission.
Oversight