Illegal Immigration Has Skyrocketed
- In fiscal year 2021, there were 1.66 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, surpassing previous records.
- This number increased to 2.2 million in 2022, with a slight decrease to 2 million in 2023.
- The first quarter of 2024 has already seen over 1.17 million encounters, indicating an upward trend and an international perception that the border is navigable and that current policy makes for relatively easy illegal entry.
Safety and Security Are Imperiled
- Over 35,000 aliens with criminal convictions or outstanding warrants, including 598 known gang members, were arrested in 2021
- China, and others, use social media to exploit the vulnerabilities in our border. This includes tutorials on how to best cross the border and how to successfully engage with the U.S. Border and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to receive asylum.
- The number of ”gotaways” has risen dramatically, from 389,515 in 2021 to 860,000 in 2023.
We Need To Secure Our Border
- The wall should be built alongside improving and deploying advanced surveillance technologies in greater quantities. Together, this can increase border monitoring efficiency and reduce illegal crossings.
- We also need to improve infrastructure at the points of entry, increase border patrol staffing and support, expand collaboration with border communities, increase international cooperation, and increase funding for counter-narcotics operations.
- It’s in everyone’s interests for America to have a lawful, secure border that allows for legal entry to our country. Policymakers need to take immediate action to make this happen.
Click HERE to read the policy focus and learn more about border and immigration.