Attorney General Jeff Sessions heralded the start of the "Trump era" of immigration by revealing stricter punishments for illegal immigrants in Arizona Tuesday.
"For those that continue to seek improper and illegal entry into this country, be forewarned: This is a new era. This is the Trump era," Sessions told immigration officials, according to ABC News.
"The lawlessness, the abdication of the duty to enforce our immigration laws, and the catch and release practices of old are over."
He also assured Customs and Border Protection agents that he will "bring the full weight of both the immigration courts and federal criminal enforcement to combat this attack on our national security and sovereignty."
Sessions’ Justice Department intends to add 125 immigration judges in the upcoming two years through an expedited hiring process. He also revealed that undocumented immigrants will face felony charges if caught crossing the border illegally twice, and that each U.S. attorney’s office will add a border security coordinator in their district.
"This is no accident," he said, citing declining numbers of undocumented immigrants illegally entering the country. "This is what happens when you have a President who understands the threat, who is not afraid to publicly identify the threat and stand up to it, and who makes clear to law enforcement that the leadership of their country finally has their back."
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