Arguments about the wall, law enforcement, and deportation continue to make headlines and illegal immigration is soaring in the United States. According to Pew Research, massive numbers of migrants are now arriving in the country every month. Researchers compared the figures for 2019 (so far) to previous years, and the sheer numbers were shocking.
A shocking number of immigrants have been apprehended this year. The figure has climbed 1,000 percent in just the last few months. Apprehensions of family groups are even higher, according to the Washington Post — up 7,000 percent. These shocking figures indicate just how many people are trying to access the border and illegally cross into the United States.
The rapid increase in apprehensions has several likely causes ranging from more vigilance at the border, and the growing number of migrants passing through Mexico on their way to the United States. The U.S. began putting pressure on Mexico last week when President Donald Trump announced a tariff on all goods from the country until officials stop letting immigrants from other nations cross through Mexico to enter the U.S. illegally.
Migrants from Central America are traveling in caravans — some funded by organizations in the United States. These caravans are using Mexico as a gateway to the U.S., and traveling in mass numbers across Mexico. This mass migration has led to more illegal immigrant apprehensions at the border than ever before.
Increased vigilance at the border has also contributed to the increase. Under President Trump, the border is more secure, even without the wall. Enforcement of existing policies and regulations about migration has also contributed to the increase in apprehensions; agents are taking a more active role in securing the border and turning away migrants.
A massive increase in the number of family groups that contain one or more families with children and other relatives has also contributed to the rising apprehensions. While the overall number of arrests have climbed 1000 percent, family group apprehensions have grown by over 7000 percent in the past two year.
Over 133,000 people were arrested in May 2019 alone. This marked an increase over previous months, and a dramatic change from just one year ago. According to the United States Border Patrol, more immigrants have been arrested so far in 2019 than in the entire previous decade.
“If the current apprehension levels remain the same, we will surpass all physical year totals dating back to 2006,” said United States Border Patrol Chief of Law Enforcement Brian Hastings. “For the month of May, Border Patrol has apprehended over 132,000 subjects on the southwest border alone. That’s an average of 4,285 apprehensions per day.”
The flow of migrants shows no signs of stopping — or even slowing down, even as border patrol agents work tirelessly to secure the beleaguered border.
~ Conservative Zone
