Illegal Immigration Surges Back To Obama Levels

This isn’t surprising:

“The number of illegal immigrants detained along the Southwest U.S. border has increased by double digits since October, according to newly released data.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) data shows 39,006 people were detained while attempting to cross the border in November, an increase of 12 percent from the previous month and more than double the number of arrests in March and April.

The data also show the number of unaccompanied minors and families apprehended while crossing the border increased by double digits in November — by 26 percent and 45 percent, respectively — according to CBP.

The number of arrests in November is the highest number since late 2016, under former President Obama, and the most apprehensions since President Trump took office. …”

I said all along this was going to be temporary.

The decline in illegal immigration was a reaction on the part of illegal aliens. It wasn’t due to any policy change on our end. In light of the campaign rhetoric, they wanted to see how the Trump presidency would play out. Maybe the word has gotten back to them that fewer illegal aliens are being deported and they are more optimistic about their chances of being allowed to stay in the United States.

If I was an illegal alien, I would have done the same thing. I would have waited to get a feel for the new administration. I doubt they follow the news as closely as I do, but the Republican Congress decided to spend $700 billion on the NDAA which includes a $62 billion war chest for future overseas wars WITHOUT funding the border wall. We also spent another $36.5 billion on a disaster relief package for Puerto Rico. The coyotes must have a sense of the political climate in Washington.

At best, the Trump administration wants to dial back refugee resettlement and immigration enforcement to George W. Bush administration levels. They also want to focus on violent criminals like the Obama administration. The reality is nothing like the dream of rightwing deportation squads.