Rep. Troy E. Nehls Introduces the Accountability Through Deportation (ATD) Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX) introduced the Accountability Through Deportation (ATD) Act. This legislation would impose real consequences on illegal aliens who fail to comply with a release order by requiring immigration judges to order the illegal aliens removed.
Under current law, if an illegal alien fails to comply with the terms of release from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody and flees, DHS must expend resources to locate the illegal alien and then wait until the illegal alien is ordered removed by an immigration judge before being deported.
Recently introduced legislation rightfully requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to immediately issue public notice and notify local law enforcement when an alien absconds from the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program. Rep. Nehls’ ATD Act builds on that to ensure that if an immigration officer submits an affidavit to an immigration judge stating that an alien failed to comply with a condition of release under Section 236(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and absconds, such alien shall be ordered removed in absentia.
“President Trump’s border policy was only to release aliens at the Southwest Border under ‘very exigent circumstances,’” said Congressman Nehls. “Under the failed leadership of Joe Biden, more than 7.8 million illegal aliens have entered the U.S. through our porous southern border, and subsequently, many of them have been released from custody, often without proper monitoring, and disappear into American communities. Until President Trump is back in the White House, we must ensure that the illegal aliens who fail to comply with their release, are removed at all costs. Illegal aliens are on notice— if you fail to comply, we will find you, and you will be deported.”
This legislation is supported by the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE).
“Since day one, President Biden has failed to use the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program efficiently or correctly, instead acting upon the wishes of “Abolish ICE” groups who not only oppose custodial detention but call any monitoring of illegal immigrants a “digital prison,” said RJ Hauman, president of NICE. “This explains why the use of GPS monitoring has decreased significantly, even as the non-detained docket approaches 7 million. Biden’s goal is to scrap monitoring entirely and turn ATD into social services paid by the American taxpayer, to assist illegal immigrants as they arrive. By creating serious consequences for violations of ATD, Congressman Nehls is building upon a critical effort to require GPS monitoring of all illegal aliens on the non-detained docket so we can carry out large-scale deportations like those planned by President Trump.”
Read the legislation HERE.