Border Patrol Chief Suggests Imposing ‘Tougher’ Policies to Stop Illegal Border Crossings

Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens at a Border Patrol training facility in Artesia, N.M., on April 1, 2021. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens said on Thursday that tougher policies are needed to deter migrants from illegally crossing the U.S. southern border with Mexico, including imposing jail time for violators.

During an interview with CBS News on March 21, Mr. Owens suggested reviewing the country’s asylum laws to ensure that only migrants with legitimate claims will be allowed to seek asylum in the United States.

“I think that we need to be able to enforce the immigration laws that are on the books and hold people accountable whenever they choose to break the law,” Mr. Owens told the news outlet.

“If there’s no motivation to do it the right way, and the right way is causing people to have to wait a little bit longer, well, naturally they’re going to choose to come between the ports of entry. We need to take that off the table and make sure everybody’s coming through the front door.”

Mr. Owens said that if people know there will be a consequence for breaking the law and entering the country illegally, they'll be less likely to do it.

“I’m talking about jail time. I’m talking about being removed from the country and I’m talking about being banned from being able to come back because you chose to come in the illegal way instead of the established lawful pathways that we set for you,” he added.

His remarks came after a federal appeals court blocked a Texas law that would allow state law enforcement authorities to arrest people suspected of being illegal immigrants and for state judges to order their removal from the country. The appeals court order was issued shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court had cleared the way for it to take effect.

Mr. Owens said Border Patrol has worked “hand in hand” with the Texas Department of Public Safety for as long as he’s been with the agency, and that the two departments complement each other’s work.

“They back us up when we’re out in the field, and we do for them as well,” he said. “So whatever the laws are that they’re going to be enforcing, our mission remains constant. Their mission remains constant.”

Dispute Over Texas Law

The Biden administration sued in January to stop the Texas law, known as SB4, which was originally set to take effect on March 5. The administration argued it violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law by interfering with the U.S. government’s power to regulate immigration as well as running afoul of a 2012 Supreme Court precedent.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said the law was required due to what he described as the Biden administration’s failure to enforce federal laws that penalize illegal entry or reentry into the United States.

The Biden administration has been at odds with the governor on a number of state immigration policies, including Texas setting up razor wire in a high-traffic area near its border with Mexico and barriers set up in the Rio Grande.

Over the past three years, Republicans have been highly critical of the Biden administration’s border policies, saying they’ve led to a surge in illegal immigration into the United States.

The White House has shifted the blame, saying the unprecedented surge in border crossings since the Biden administration took over is due to a “broken” system that can be remedied if Congress passes the appropriate laws. But Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have noted the president has the authority to enforce immigration laws.

Reuters and Jack Phillips contributed to this report.