THE WEEK’S US BORDER NEWS IN BRIEF:
U.S. border security and immigration policy the week of July 19 to July 26, 2026, included a pushback over ICE’s hiring practices, a rollback of green card rules, and an aggressive push to construct new mass-detention centers.
ICE Vetting Under Scrutiny Following Fatal Shootings
Officer’s History Revealed: Following two separate fatal traffic-stop shootings by ICE agents earlier in July, an investigation revealed that an agent involved in the deadly Maine shooting had a history of domestic violence and mental health issues before being hired.
Hiring Spree Concerns: External law enforcement experts publicly warned that ICE slashed critical background vetting standards to rapidly recruit and onboard more than 12,000 new officers in less than a year.
Body Camera Rollout and Review: Responding to intense public backlash and congressional accusations of racial profiling, White House Border Czar Tom Homan confirmed that ICE officially mandated body cameras for all traffic stops. Homan also announced that the agency is actively placing its officer vetting and training procedures under review.
Mass Detention Expansion and “Deportation-Maxing”
Targeting 14 New Locations: To handle a record-breaking surge of over 60,000 detained migrants, ICE issued bidding proposals to rapidly build or expand detention facilities in 14 locations, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The agency is pivoting to new construction because its initial $1 billion attempt to convert commercial warehouses into detention spaces remains locked in environmental lawsuits.
New Arrest Quotas: Internal sources revealed that the administration set a daily target of 2,000 arrests. Homan celebrated the massive influx of funding from Congress, declaring that the agency is operating at full capacity and “deportation-maxing.”
Bond Evading Tactics: Immigrant defense attorneys warned that ICE is intentionally transferring bond-eligible detainees into the 5th U.S. Circuit jurisdiction (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi), where strict regional court precedents block undocumented individuals from receiving bond hearings.
Final Public Charge Rule Published
Official Federal Register Entry: On July 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially published its final rule rescinding the 2022 Biden-era public charge regulation.
Expanded Officer Discretion: Set to take effect on September 18, 2026, the policy change strips away previous restrictions on what types of aid can be penalized. It grants immigration officers nearly unlimited subjective authority to deny green cards to applicants who utilize or are deemed likely to utilize government assistance programs like Medicaid, food stamps, or housing vouchers.
FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)
Outcry in New Mexico over Chaco Canyon Protection Rollback
World Heritage Site at Risk
US Senators press immigration agents to have body cameras
Democrats vs DHS
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Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
I wonder if the past administration people could be arrested for the crimes committed by the ILLEGAL ALIENS that "STOLE THEIR WAY" into this country?? Those "ILLEGALS" came into this country and many have made even MORE CRIMINAL ACTS SINCE! Those crimes would not have happened if those individuals has not been allowed in. Therefore, WHY can't people of the Biden administration be prosecuted for being complicit?
Thank you, Jack for the latest update on the detention centers. Too many people say that if illegals are not causing trouble, then the ICE agents should not go after them . They don't understand that illegal is a crime.