Management
GAO Says Biden’s Freeze on Border Wall Construction Didn’t Violate Budget Law
The watchdog said the “programmatic delays” were not comparable to an earlier GAO finding that the Trump administration violated the Impoundment Control Act in withholding funds for Ukraine.
Management
As More Climate Migrants Cross Borders Seeking Refuge, Laws Will Need to Adapt
Climate migrants don’t fit neatly into the legal definitions of refugee or migrant, and that can leave them in limbo. The Biden administration is debating how to identify and help them.
Workforce
Lawmakers Say Biden's Deployments of Feds to the Border Risk Agency Missions
Republican House members ask for data on governmentwide details set up to address uptick in migrant children.
Management
'Shadow Wins': How ICE Avoids Judicial Accountability by Quietly Releasing Immigrants Who Challenge Being Detained
ICE helps maintain the status quo of prolonged detentions by releasing immigrants without having their cases vindicated in court, according to a new report.
Management
Senate Democrats Call on Attorney General to Restore Immigration Judges Union
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee called on Merrick Garland to reverse efforts to decertify the National Association of Immigration Judges and to axe a policy restricting judges' ability to speak publicly on immigration issues.
Oversight
Trump Administration Often Denied Separated Parents Chance to Reunite With Their Kids Prior to Deportation, IG Finds
Inconsistent policy from ICE runs counter to claims from top DHS officials.
Management
GovExec Daily: CBP, Social Media and the IG Report
Eric Katz joins the podcast to discuss a new Homeland Security Inspector General report on workforce issues at Customs and Border Protection.
Management
Documents Show Trump Officials Used Secret Terrorism Unit to Question Lawyers at the Border
In newly disclosed records, Trump officials cited conspiracies about Antifa to justify interrogating immigration lawyers with a special terrorism unit. The documents also show that more lawyers were targeted than previously known.
Workforce
Biden Administration Floats Boosting Permanent Workforce to Process Migrant Children
Republicans blast current approach, including deployment of feds across government to the border.
Pay & Benefits
OPM Waives Premium Pay Cap for Border Detailees
The federal government’s HR agency declared that the influx of children at the southern border is an emergency for the purposes of waiving restrictions on how much premium pay federal employees can earn.
Workforce
Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Pushes Federal Hiring Spree to Address Border Influx
Several agencies would see boosted workforces, even those where Democrats previously resisted such efforts.
Management
The Situation at the U.S.-Mexico Border Is a Crisis – but Is It New?
Children and families have been fleeing to the U.S. in rising numbers for nearly a decade. So why is the current situation at the US-Mexico border being viewed as something new?
Management
'No Good Choices:' HHS Is Cutting Safety Corners to Move Migrant Kids Out of Overcrowded Facilities
After ignoring signs that shelters were filling quickly, agencies are scrambling to get thousands of kids out of Border Patrol jails. But new “emergency” facilities skirt safety standards, while facilities accused of abuse are still getting grants.
Pay & Benefits
The Pay Implications of Temporary Border Details, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Workforce
Biden Asks Feds Across Government to Volunteer to Assist at the Border
Employees would serve four-month stints and work directly with migrant children.
Oversight
Migrants, Including Children, Face Cramped Conditions at South Texas Border Patrol Facility
Images released by a Democratic U.S. representative show settings similar to those that Democrats hammered former President Donald Trump over two years ago, when that administration encountered an increase of migrant apprehensions
Management
Biden Taps FEMA to Run Interagency Effort to House Record Influx of Migrant Children
Agencies have struggled to keep pace with the unprecedented number of unaccompanied minors arriving at the southwest border.
Oversight
Lawmakers Are Seeking Common Ground on DACA, but Comprehensive Immigration Reform Will Be a Challenge for Democrats
The Senate filibuster stands as a key obstacle to Democrats’ priorities.
Management
Migrant Apprehensions Continued Upward Trend in February
The Rio Grande Valley and the El Paso sectors remain the busiest crossing points as more than 100,000 people were either apprehended or surrendered to authorities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Management