Since October 2020, more than one million migrants have been arrested at the Mexico border. Let’s take a look.
Rough Start
The Biden administration has been apprehensive about increased security concerns at the southern border, and now their fears are coming true. Since March, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that the U.S. is
“on pace to encounter more individuals on the southwest border than we have in the last 20 years.”
Border patrol officers and officials have said that they anticipate well over one million arrests since June. Security officials are pressed to provide adequate coverage, but since the COVID-19 border closures and other restrictions crossing numbers continue to climb to new heights.
Since the beginning of his presidency, President Joe Biden has emphasized public health, especially at the border. Since his first day in office, Biden has supported a policy that allowed border authorities to turn back migrants at the border with the exception of children. Now, as restrictions are loosened, the administration is coming to terms with the reality of America’s busiest border.
Blame Game
As always, a political blame game is taking precedence over actual issues at the border. President Biden has set out to remove stifling immigration policies put in place by his predecessor and commission a new system in their place from day one.
The Republican factions blame Biden’s swift reversals for these new troubles. They claim that Biden’s policies have created the perfect storm for border officials and that these issues will only grow over time.
The reality of the situation is that many people crossing the border aren’t doing so with ill intentions, and/or they attempted to cross legally before the Trump administration issued an order to send them back due to Coronavirus concerns.
What’s the Truth?
The best source for why migrants continue to cross the border is the migrants themselves. They point to poverty, food insecurity, violence, and unrest as the reasons for their departure. Countries like Honduras, E Salvador, and Guatemala continue to be unstable, and many families are looking for a better life.
While most people crossing the border are Mexican men, it is important to know why. Historically, male migrants can make the trek across the border while young children and older men and women cannot.
Many of these men have crossed the border to begin to build the foundation for a new life for their families – not just themselves. It’s also essential to understand the role COVID-19 has played in keeping border security in a tough spot.
The pandemic has affected all of us, but especially those living in countries that do not have immediate access to vaccines or the supply chain is interrupted for one reason or another. COVID-19 has taken millions of lives, and communities already on the verge of destitution cannot afford to wait around for the virus to go away – they must take matters into their own hands.
What Happens Now?
The situation at the border will remain complicated and difficult until there can be a better system that may fix some of these issues. Until then, migrants seeking new opportunities in the United States may continue to have an uphill battle.
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