SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — According to data compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, Mexican nationals are more inclined to face detention after being apprehended by federal immigration officers.
TRAC figures indicate that in July, 57 percent of Mexican nationals arrested for crossing the border or being in the country illegally were kept in detention centers during their immigration court proceedings.
By contrast, overall, only 30 percent of migrants were detained after their apprehensions.
According to TRAC, ICE determines when a person is held, and that there is no specific pattern in the decision-making.
“In reality, little is known about the factors that influence these custody decisions,” notes TRAC. “ICE agents possess significant discretion in making these decisions, and their criteria is seldom disclosed.”
According to TRAC, it appears decisions are taken by the agents themselves and are influenced by their own backgrounds and ethnic identity.
However, the state in which migrants are apprehended can also determine whether they are detained.
TRAC highlights that being detained can have significant consequences, pointing out that those in custody face more challenges securing documents and legal assistance to contest deportation.
TRAC further states that by June 30, the majority of individuals in ICE custody did not have a criminal record, with 4 out of 5 individuals either having no record or having committed only a minor offense, like a traffic violation.
