June 11, 2019
Contrary to the Never Trump lawmakers and mainstream media, Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexico if they did not agree to curb the flow of migrants arriving at our southern border, has resulted in an agreement not reached before Trump’s ultimatum. In short- Mexican officials have promised to take unprecedented steps to deter/prevent the flow of Central American migrants using Mexico as a conduit to travel to the U.S.
The Crisis at the Border
For months Democrats have been claiming that the situation at the border is a “manufactured crisis”. Based on the current numbers the U.S. is projecting that more than a million migrants will be apprehended at the border this year. In the last eight months more than 680,000 border crossers have been detained. Yes- it is a “real”crisis.
Last month alone 144,000 migrants crossed our Southern border. May was the third month in a row in which border apprehensions topped 100,000. This is the highest number of apprehensions in thirteen years. However, unlike 2006, when migrants were mostly single men from Mexico, who could be immediately deported to their native country, the migrants currently flooding our border are mostly adults and children from Central America, who can not be immediately deported or detained.
Our dysfunctional immigration laws require that migrants from Central America claiming asylum must be granted a hearing before being deported back to their native country. Further, because of the Flores agreement those arriving with children can not not be detained longer than 20 days. As a result, almost all migrants arriving from Central America claiming asylum with a child are released into the interior of our country pending their asylum hearing.
Currently the backlog of migrants residing in the U.S., awaiting the adjudication of their asylum claim, is more than 900,000. It can take up to three years to be granted a hearing. Historically almost 1/2 never show for their hearing. However, the acting Homeland Security Secretary, Kevin McAleenan appearing before a congressional panel Tuesday stated that more recent numbers indicate that 90% of asylum seekers are disappearing into our country and not showing for their hearings.
Speaking at a press conference a few weeks ago, the acting Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner, John Sanders stated that, “For the first time in Border Patrol history, nearly 1/2 the adults we apprehended in April brought children. They have clearly received the message loud and clear: bring a child. You will be released.”
Many know that as long as they make it to the border, state they have a “credible fear” of returning home, and bring a child, they are ensured entry into our country.
While residing in the U.S., asylum seekers have access to many benefits. Those in need, who are pregnant or have young children are provided nutrition assistance programs, such as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Their children are provided a free education, free school meals; and any future children born in the U.S. will be American citizens. In addition, numerous states offer the children of illegal immigrants free health care. Further after 180 days of residence in the U.S. the asylum seeker is eligible to receive a work permit.
During his Congressional testimony Tuesday Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan testified to the fact that our current immigration system incentivizes migrants to cross the border with a child. According to McAleenan his agency has uncovered numerous child smuggling operations. In one instance eight children crossed the border with 36 different adults.
Incredibly, according to Homeland Security figures 90% of the families who were taken into custody along the border in 2017 remain present in the U.S.
“We are in a full blown emergency. I cannot say this stronger: the system is broken,” – acting Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner John Sanders.
Last week in El Paso, an unprecedented single file line of 1045 crossed through the Rio Grande and immediately surrendered to U.S. agents.
Rather than secure our border, CBP officials say that BP agents spend 1/2 their time processing migrants and providing care, food, clothing, and medical assistance to them and their children. When hundreds of migrants cross the border together, as has been frequently occurring, border patrol resources are diverted, leaving the border vulnerable to drug traffickers, human smugglers, and even terrorists.
It was recently revealed that there was an ISIS plot to infiltrate the Southern border to carry out a “financial attack”. Former ISIS fighter Abu Henricki, who is currently in a Syrian prison admitted he was recruited to help carry out the failed plot. Henricki stated to reporters from Homeland Security Today that he believed that it was to be a “bombing mission.”
According to Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol agent Rodolfo Karisch, at a senate Homeland Security Committee hearing in April, illegal immigrants from 50 different countries have been caught infiltrating our country via the southern border.
Mexico and U.S. Agreement
Unfortunately, Democrats, aware that securing the border was one of Trump’s main campaign promises, would prefer the crisis at our border continue, rather than work with President Trump and allow him a victory. Consequently Trump turned to the Mexican government to help stem the flood of migrants pouring over our shared border into the U.S.
In an unprecedented move Mexico has agreed to send 6,000 of their newly formed National Guard troops to strengthen its border with Guatemala. They have also consented to increase arrests along the shared border with the United States.
Further, Mexico will expand the Migrant Protection Protocol program, also known as “Remain in Mexico”. The MPP allows the U.S. to send Central American asylum seekers back to Mexico to await their asylum hearing. The Washington Post has reported that under the agreement the U.S. is expecting to send 1,000 Central American migrants a day back to Mexico.
It has also been reported by Mexico’s foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, that the U.S. is giving Mexico 45 days to significantly curb U.S.- bound migration. If after this time period they fail, Mexico has agreed to be designated a “safe third” country. This would require migrants passing through Mexico to apply for asylum in Mexico, not the U.S.
Purportedly, discussions will also take place with other countries currently used by migrants in their transit to the U.S., to see if they will share the burden of processing asylum claims.
It is undeniable that the widely criticized tariff threat made by President Trump, along with his negotiations with the Mexican government, are responsible for this agreement with Mexico. It is also without a doubt a win for the President as well as our country.
Although detrimental to our country the border crisis has been politically expedient for Democrats, as it has served their only objective -harming President Trump to destroy his presidency. Fortunately, thanks to Trump’s initiative and negotiating skills the Mexican government has proven to be more of an ally to our country than the Democrat party.
