Department
of Justice
Office
of Public Affairs
Monday, April 23, 2018
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Statement on Central American 'Caravan'
Attorney General Jeff Sessions today issued the following
statement on the Central American 'Caravan':
“Pockets of the original, so-called ‘migrant caravan,’ which
press reports indicate consists mostly of Honduran nationals, have begun to
arrive at our southern border with the intent of claiming asylum. These
individuals—and their smugglers—ignored the willingness of the Mexican
government to allow them to stay in Mexico.
“Let today’s message be clear: our nation has the most generous
immigration system in the world, but this is a deliberate attempt to undermine
our laws and overwhelm our system. There is no right to demand entry without
justification. Smugglers and traffickers and those who lie or commit fraud will
be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Promoting and enforcing the rule of law is essential to
protecting a nation, its borders, and its citizens. But, as President Trump has
warned, the need to fix these loopholes and weaknesses in our immigration
system is critical and overdue.
“Accordingly, I have directed our U.S. Attorneys at the border
to take whatever immediate action to ensure that we have sufficient prosecutors
available. I have also directed that we commit any additional necessary
immigration judges to adjudicate any cases that may arise from this ‘caravan.’”
