Issuance of Two New Immigration Orders; Intensification of Illegal Immigrant Deportations from the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is intensifying the deportation of illegal immigrants with the issuance of two new orders on Tuesday, February 21, targeting approximately 11 million foreigners in the United States. According to reports from AFP and the Associated Press, these two orders, signed by John Kelly, the Secretary of Homeland Security, change previous priorities regarding the deportation of illegal immigrants and place a larger number of them at risk of immediate expulsion from U.S. soil. The orders prioritize not only those immigrants who have committed crimes for deportation but also those who are accused of committing crimes or are potentially under suspicion, requiring them to be swiftly returned to their home countries. This contrasts with the previous U.S. administration, where immigrants who had not committed crimes were not prioritized for deportation. However, Kelly's orders violate that previous prioritization, except for 'some very exceptional cases,' including those involving children, and encompass nearly all 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. The orders emphasize that 'all those who have violated immigration laws' may be subject to the new directives. John Kelly has also ordered that planning and construction of the border wall between the United States and Mexico begin immediately. He has simultaneously ordered the hiring of an additional 5,000 officers for the Border Protection and Customs Agency and 10,000 officers for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. The Department of Homeland Security had previously estimated the cost of building the wall at $21.6 billion and the time required for its construction at over three years.