Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a "zero-tolerance policy" on Friday regarding immigrants illegally crossing into the U.S. from Mexico in a memo to federal prosecutors along the southwest border, The Hill reported Friday.
In the memo, Sessions directed prosecutors to make it a priority to prosecute criminal immigration offenses. He also further directed prosecutors "to work with the Department of Homeland Security to develop guidelines for prosecuting offenses."
"Accordingly, I direct each United States Attorney's Office along the Southwest Border — to the extent practicable, and in consultation with DHS — to adopt immediately a zero-tolerance policy for all offenses referred for prosecution under section 1325(a). This zero-tolerance policy shall supersede any existing policies," the memo read.
"To those who wish to challenge the Trump Administration's commitment to public safety, national security, and the rule of law, I warn you: illegally entering this country will not be rewarded, but will instead be met with the full prosecutorial powers of the Department of Justice," Sessions said in a statement.
"The situation at our Southwest Border is unacceptable," Sessions continued in the statement. "Congress has failed to pass effective legislation that serves the national interest — that closes dangerous loopholes and fully funds a wall along our southern border."
The Justice Department said the new policy was necessary due to a 203 percent increase in illegal border crossings from March 2017 to March 2018 reported by Homeland Security. February 2018 to March 2018 saw the largest month-to-month increase since 2011, with a 37 percent jump in illegal border crossings reported.
Homeland Security reported apprehensions by Border Patrol of undocumented immigrants along the southwest U.S. border increased by 40 percent from February to March of this year. Apprehensions are used as an estimate of attempted illegal border crossings. The recent numbers reverse the drop seen in President Donald Trump's first year in office, the article explained.
"We must continue to execute effective policies to meet new challenges," Sessions stated in the memo. "Remember, our goal is not simply more cases. It is to end the illegality in our immigration system."
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