Acting Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Mark Morgan said Thursday that the Trump administration's rule change on detaining illegal immigrant families was "a game-changer" that would allow for a completed asylum process.
"This is a game-changer," Morgan told Fox News. "Because of the current Flores settlement agreement, everybody knows. You grab a kid, that's your U.S. passport into the United States, because we can't hold you more than 20 days.
"That's not long enough to go through the immigration proceedings," he added. "That's catch- and-release. This new rule is going to address this."
Kevin McAleenan, acting Homeland Security secretary, said Wednesday that the administration was scrapping the so-called Flores settlement agreement and indefinitely holding migrant families together while their asylum cases are pending.
The Flores settlement stems from a 1985 federal court case that was eventually argued before the Supreme Court. It concerned Jenny Flores, then 15, who was detained with adults by federal authorities after fleeing El Salvador.
A court-ordered settlement was reached in 1997, allowing illegal immigrant children to be placed in licensed care programs after 20 days.
In his announcement, McAleenan said the new rule would replace Flores, though retaining most of its terms. The change is scheduled to take effect in 60 days.
Morgan told Fox News that federal officials detention times would most likely increase to as many as 60 days, debunking claims that migrant families would be held indefinitely.
"From 20 to about 50 to 60 days, in general, is what we're talking about," he said. "It's not indefinite.
"It's just long enough to go through the immigration process."
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