Ineffective Policies Behind Border Apprehensions

From In Homeland Security

U.S. Border Patrol agents are used to seeing cycles in migrant apprehensions along the Southwest border. The amount of work they have to do is usually affected by two things — the weather and White House policy. However, in the past two years, it appears that despite stringent measures by the Trump administration to deter illegal immigration, policy changes are having less of an impact on border apprehension numbers than the security and economic needs of Central American migrants.

Life-Threatening Border-Crossing Heat

Summer is the most difficult time of year for immigrants from Central America to attempts a border crossing into the United States. The heat and conditions in the Mexican desert can be life-threatening, so apprehension numbers usually take a dip during these months. Trust administration officials were keeping a keen eye on these numbers, however, because of the “zero tolerance” policy the White House enacted in April 2018.

The policy was rescinded in May 2018 because of controversy over the separation of family members. However, despite the policy being in effect for over a month, apprehension numbers in May and June couldn’t be directly attributed to this strict policy. Despite August being one of the hottest months of the year, Southwest border apprehension numbers for family units that month increased by 38 percent from July. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated in a press release that the migration numbers “show a clear indicator that the migration flows are responding to gaps in our nation’s legal framework.”

Rising Border Apprehensions