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Migrants using Catholic Charities to shield themselves from ICE

Immigrants crossing the border illegally are shielding themselves from ICE by listing Catholic Charities addresses as their intended destinations.

That makes it nearly impossible for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to serve them with their initial immigration court summons, gumming up the courts and giving the migrants a way to avoid the initial step in their deportation cases.

The result is when ICE does catch up, officers have to start the deportation process anew.

Catholic Charities and Homeland Security both acknowledged the practice is happening, but disagreed on who was to blame. The department said it has to accept any valid addresses migrants provide.