Significant Decrease in Illegal Crossings at U.S.-Mexico Border Amid Trump’s Policies

Illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have plummeted by nearly 94% since President Trump’s return to office, with numbers dropping from 130,000 to around 8,300. Trump’s policies, including suspending the asylum system and intensifying deportations, have been credited for this decline. However, growing concerns exist regarding the targeting of legal migrants and the ongoing legal challenges to these actions.

In recent developments, illegal crossings at the United States-Mexico border have significantly decreased, mainly attributed to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies following his return to office. The number of attempted illegal crossings fell from over 130,000 in February last year to approximately 8,300 in February this year, a staggering drop of nearly 94 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. This decline is largely credited to Trump’s efforts to secure the nation’s borders through executive actions.

President Trump has implemented several measures aimed at reducing illegal immigration, which include suspending the U.S. asylum system, intensifying deportation initiatives, and deploying additional military personnel to the southern border. Furthermore, an agreement with Mexico has led to the mobilization of Mexican troops to guard the border, which effectively delayed the imposition of hefty U.S. tariffs on Mexican goods.

The overarching crackdown on illegal immigration has sent a clear message to potential border crossers that they face significant risks of deportation. Since the initiation of Trump’s deportation campaign, visuals of flights transporting detained migrants have been prominently featured in the media. A notable instance involved the deportation of over 250 alleged Venezuelan gang members, facilitated through the utilization of the Alien Enemies Act, a century-old law permitting expansive presidential powers in wartime.

The ACLU has since criticized these tactics, deeming them unlawful. Lawyer Lee Gelernt expressed concerns over the implications of the administration’s actions, stating, “If the administration is allowed to use wartime authorities any time it wants to remove people, I think we are going to see more and more people being subjected to the Alien Enemies Act.” Despite legal challenges, Trump’s administration has maintained a formidable stance on immigration enforcement, even calling for the impeachment of judges ruling against such measures.

While Trump’s immigration policies are attracting legal scrutiny, they seem to be effective as evidenced by the declining illegal crossing figures. Analyst Tony Payan highlighted that although ethical concerns regarding the strategies exist, the collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico has enhanced border security. However, Payan noted that the decline in unauthorized entries cannot solely be attributed to Trump, as policies enacted under former President Joe Biden also contributed to this trend.

There are rising concerns about the broadening scope of Trump’s immigration enforcement, which appears to target individuals legally present in the country. Reports indicate that lawful immigrants, including those participating in pro-Palestinian protests, face arrests and deportations. Moreover, the Trump administration plans to revoke temporary legal statuses for over half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela in the coming month, further escalating apprehension within immigrant communities.

In summary, illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have diminished significantly, attributed to President Trump’s stringent immigration policies and executive actions. While the effectiveness of these strategies is evident, they have prompted widespread legal challenges and concerns about their implications on lawful immigrants. The situation remains dynamic, as the administration prepares to revoke the temporary statuses of numerous migrants, raising further apprehensions about the future of immigration in the United States.

Original Source: www.channelnewsasia.com