Is there now a US border crisis that is sufficiently severe to justify criminalizing all who present themselves at US border crossings seeking either asylum or refugee status?
Perhaps this graph might shed some perspective:This is a graph of US ICE enforcement actions from 1930 to 2015. The trend, after peaking in 2000 is clearly downwards. Source:Illegal immigration to the United States - WikipediaThe indication is that the number of illegal migrants is declining overall. There is a local spike right now, but the long term trend is down.In addition, here are some other indicators:5 facts about illegal immigration in the U.S.The illegal immigrant population is lower in 2015 than in 2009Mexicans are no longer the majority of illegal migrantsThe number of illegal migrants in the workforce peaked around 2007 and has stabilized at around 5%.6 states, California, New York, Texas, Florida, New Jersey and Illinois account for 59% of the illegal immigrantsA rising share of illegal immigrants are long term residents:So is there a border crisis? Statistically, it seems not.
Do you think the US has a crisis on the southern border or is Trump responsible for creating the problem?
I don't think it is a crisis and I don't think it was created by Trump. It is an unsustainable situation that must be changed. You can not have a situation where people can enter and leave your country at will, without any kind of supervision.So in my opinion nthere should be two strokes to solve this problem:There must be a clear and available legal immigration path for everybody, along with clear criteria and clear bureaucratic procedure. People must be able to apply for residence (and subsequently citizenship) with a reasonable expectation of getting it. That retarded lottery thing they do is really a huge insult to migrants, and is damaging to the country.There must be a significant drawback to illegally crossing borders and illegally living in the country. People, who are illegally staying in the country, should have no ways of doing anything. They shouldn't be able to open a bank account, they shouldn't be able to rent homes, and they of course shouldn't be able to get a job, buy or register a car, nothing. The only reason there are so many illegal immigrants is because employers are not being persecuted for hiring illegal immigrants. If the authorities clamped down on employers, illegal immigration would be gone in two months.If those two points are implemented, there should also be a grace period for those, who are in the country illegally now. These people should get something like a year of time, during which they can either legalize their status or leave the country. After the grace period, rigorous punishments for illegal immigrants should be handed out, something like seizure of all property, 5 years of prison and banishment forever.
Is the US/Mexico border in crisis?
Yes it is in crisis. It never has been during my 76 years living in the United States, but for easily identifiable reasons it is in crisis today. The reasons? Politicians! Business people want to make money, that’s what motivates them. Some will do or say anything to make money. Politicians are motivate more by getting elected. They NEED to get elected. And some of them will do or say anything to get elected.In the past immigrants have been used as scapegoats, as targets of hateful propaganda that serves a political purpose. And, unfortunately at this moment in Europe and in the United States there are quite a few unscrupulous populist politicians who are using immigrants to frighten vulnerable people into supporting the politicians’ purposes—get elected and then to stay in office. It’s nasty and it’s wrong.
Is there actually a crisis at the US-Mexico border?
Only in that there are still more people leaving the US for Central America than are entering.But it’s the same tactic that the fascists in Germany and Italy used against the Jews in the Thirties: claim they’re the cause of a set of random problems so you don’t have to solve them yourself.And in this case, there isn't even a specific set of problems agreed upon that immigrants are causing.And there is more to a crisis or emergency than just to use the words.Usually either will have a clear beginning date;A transitory nature that most people recognize, such as a flood.A solution which is mechanical in nature, rather than a policy such as President Trump proposes.A clear idea of what success would look like.A clear path to be followed by measures to get to that end, with no ambiguity as to how the measures would help. Such as the establishment of a medical aid station where the flood may be hurting folks.This situation, if it is even that, does not have any of those characteristics.So no.
What is the "U.S. border crisis" and how can it be fixed?
The crisis is that the present admin has allowed there to be open borders without any action being taken. It is his "lead from behind" plan of leadership. The way to solve the problem is simple...BUILD A FENCE a BIG FENCE with razor wire. Then build a double or triple fence if necessary.
Have Trump administration anti immigration policies caused more people to try and cross the US southern border?
No. I took a cursory look at the data provided by the boarder patrol and without adding up entry at every port it appears there was more before. The data I looked at also did not specify the intent or who was crossing just that a person crossed.But I know that he has cut down on applications processed at the border by a third of what it was before. So Yea, the border is going to look packed because they are making people wait on the other side when they would have processed them. Within the last week they cut down the number of applications accepted.It was 40 from hundred now I think its 20. Lets make it look fierce and more crowded!
BORDER – Since when was there a crisis?
People have been illegally crossing the US-Mexico border for, at least, fifty years Every few years the number of crossing increases and decreases based upon demand for labor. What suddenly made it a crisis? Is it simply that Bozo refers to it as a crisis? If it wasn’t a crisis for fifty years, what suddenly made it a crisis?
It seems Trump is making this border crisis an actual crisis, he's making it worse isn't he?
I would definitely say that his recent cutting off of all aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras is only going to exacerbate the situation. But then it seems that action is intentionally meant to make it worse for Trumps own political gain.
Why don't Democrats want to secure the border FIRST in any immigration reform package?
The GOP main demand is that we secure the border before we implement the rest of the reforms. Democrats are vehemently against this and 'say' they will secure the border after reform is implemented. Two questions. 1. What point is there to reforms if you don't secure the border first? 2. Do you actually believe that Democrats will follow through with their word and secure the border if they get their amnesty?