The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Tuesday plans to expand control of theUS borders to combat illegal entry between the ports of entry while facilitating travel for legitimate Mexican visitors.

The plans include expanding the use of expedited removal from the ports-of-entry to locations along the US border and increasingthe amount of time a border crossing card will allow a Mexican card-holder to remain in the United States, the department said ina statement.

The expansion of the expedited removal processing, which has been used at official ports of entry in the country since 1997, will allow the DHS to speed the removal of undocumented migrants who are caught while attempting to illegally enter the United States by fraudulent means or while attempting to elude Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents.

The new procedure will only apply to those caught within 100 miles (about 160 km) of the Mexican or Canadian borders, and only if they are caught within their first 14 days in the United States.

When a migrant is apprehended and placed in expedited removal proceedings, he or she generally will be detained and removed to his or her country of origin as soon as circumstances allow. The migrant will not be released into the United States in most cases,and is not provided a hearing before an Immigration Judge unless the migrant is determined to have a credible fear of return to hisor her country.

The expanded use of expedited removal is primarily directed at illegal aliens who are not citizens of Mexico or Canada, the statement said.

The DHS also has decided to expand the time restriction on border crossing cards used by Mexicans to enter the United Statesfor temporary visits. Current rules limit card holders to visits of up to 72 hours within the border zones, and a card holder must obtain an I-94 form (record of entry/departure) to travel in the United States for longer periods or outside of the border zones.

The new rule will extend the time limit for card-holding visitors from 72 hours to a period of 30 days within the border zones.

Source: Xinhua