Day after new migrant detention rule announced, Trump official speaks in Austin
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The acting Director of the Citizen and Immigration Services, Ken Cuccinelli, spoke in Austin the day after the Trump Administration published new rules stating they will no longer act on the decades-old agreement known as the Flores Agreement.
In effect, this will allow the administration to keep migrant families in detention facilities until their court date, longer than the Flores agreed-upon 20 days. The rule is expected to be published the federal registry on Friday, to take effect in 60 days.
Currently, a recently detained immigrant’s case will be resolved in around two months but there is technically no limit to how long someone can be held in U.S. detention.
Cuccinelli spoke with Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, during a discussion moderated by Kevin Roberts with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank in Austin.
Cuccinelli told the audience in Austin that going back on the Flores agreement will end “catch and release.” A lawsuit over this issue by immigration advocates is almost guaranteed.
KXAN’s Phil Prazan will have details of their discussion on KXAN News at 5 p.m.