Most Americans think surge of illegal border crossings is a crisis | TheHill – The Hill
Is there a border crisis? According to DHS Secretary Alejandro MayorkasAlejandro MayorkasMost Americans think surge of illegal border crossings is a crisis Biden unveils push to encourage US citizenship Photos of the Week: Infrastructure, Britney Spears and Sen. Tillis's dog MORE, there isnt but the illegal crossing numbers indicate that there is.
Illegal border crossings have reacheda 20-year high. In the four months before Biden took office,illegal crossingsaveraged 70,000 a month. The number rose to 97,640 in February, the first full month of Bidens presidency; to 169,204 in March; and to 173,686 in April; and it was 172,011 in May.
Recidivism
Mayorkas claims that the numbers are misleading because they include the recidivists who make more than one illegal crossing.
Recidivism is becoming a major problem. Approximately 38 percent of the illegal crossers arrested in May had tried to cross at least one other time in the past year. Thats up from an average one-year recidivism rate of 15 percent between 2014 and 2019.
But the surge in recidivism is not a mitigating factor. It is part of the crisis.
It is happening because undocumented migrants can make as many illegal crossings as they want without fear of consequences. Illegal entry is a crime, but the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona didnt prosecute any illegal crossers in May.
This encourages illegal crossers to keep trying until they succeed. Border security measures are meaningless when the people who are deported today can come back tomorrow.
And once they have succeeded in reaching the interior of the country, they are home free. It is extremely unlikely that they will be put in removal proceedings unless they are convicted of a serious crime in the United States.
Biden replaced the removal grounds that Congress passed with three priority categories. Enforcement actions are limited to deportable aliens who pose a threat to national security, border security, or public safety. Exceptions are possible, but they require preapproval from senior supervisors.
According to Ronald Vitiello, who was ICEs acting director in 2018 and 2019, The odds of being arrested just for being in the country illegally were always extremely low, and now theyve basically ruled it out by policy.
Most registered voters know there is a crisis
A Harvard CAPS/Harris poll that was taken between June 15-17, 2021, found that 74 percent of the registered voters polled think the surge in illegal border crossings is a crisis that must be addressed immediately.
This is particularly significant because 84 percent of them underestimated the number of illegal crossings. Only 7 percent knew that there are between 150,000 and 200,000 illegal crossings a month.
Only 36 percent think that Biden should continue his current border security polices; 64 percent think he should issue stricter policies to reduce illegal crossings.
Most voters (68 percent) think that Bidens immigration executive orders encourage illegal immigration, and 55 percent think that his border policies are increasing the flow of drugs and crime into the United States.
More than half (55 percent) think that Biden should have left former president Donald TrumpDonald TrumpJD Vance says he regrets past criticism of Trump Five big questions about the Jan. 6 select committee First Republican announces run for Massachusetts governor MOREs immigration executive orders in place.
Eighty percent consider illegal immigration to be a serious problem, and 43 percent responded that it is a very serious one.
Sixty seven percent think that illegal crossers should be turned back to Mexico.
A majority (61 percent) believe that the flood of tens of thousands of unaccompanied alien children is Bidens fault.
The Border Patrolapprehendsthousands of unaccompanied children every month at the border with Mexico: 5,688 in January; 9,269 in February; 18,724 in March; 16,910 in April; and 13,906 in May.
And according to the DHS Fiscal 2020 Enforcement Lifecycle Report, only4.3 percentof the 290,000 unaccompanied children who came here between fiscal 2014, and fiscal 2019, were returned to their own countries.
State governors know too
The governors of 20 states sent aletterto PresidentJoe BidenJoe BidenFive big questions about the Jan. 6 select committee With Afghanistan left in limbo, can the global South trust the West? When should the president be able to fire a watchdog? MOREand Vice PresidentKamala HarrisKamala Harris Harris, in optimistic speech, says America 'getting back to work' Most Americans think surge of illegal border crossings is a crisis Have Tucker Carlson and Ron DeSantis filled the 'Trump void' for the left? MORElast month asking them to take immediate action to end the crisis at the southern border. They claimed that the crisis is spilling over the border states into all of their states.
Arizona Gov.Doug DuceyDoug DuceyMost Americans think surge of illegal border crossings is a crisis States spend big as water levels fall, raising risks for catastrophic fires Border crisis deepens as governors assert control MOREand Texas Gov.Greg Abbott issued disaster declarations to activate emergency resources for dealing with the crisis. This has authorized them to request help in securing their borders from the other states pursuant to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
They told the other states that help is needed to respond to the surge in illegal migration and "the accompanying threats to private property and to the safety of our citizens. So far, four states have said they are going to send law enforcement officers.
State action is not a solution
Although the states may be able to arrest illegal crossers and charge them with state and local offenses, such as trespassing, they will not be able to return them to Mexico.
The presence of state and local police and national guardsmen in the vicinity of the border is likely to deter illegal crossings, but this will just divert the crossings to the California and New Mexico borders with Mexico.
This will be particularly hard on California. According to the DHS January 2021 estimates, California already has more undocumented aliens than any other state.
Biden knew his actions would cause a border crisis
The month before he was sworn in, Biden said he wasnt going to make good on his immigration campaign promises right away. If he ended Trumps remain in Mexico program and the rest of his border security measures too soon, it could result in 2 million immigrants appearing at our border.
He said it would probably take six months to prepare for implementing new border security measures.
But he made most of the changes the day he took the oath of office.
Why?
Nolan Rappaportwas detailed to the House Judiciary Committee as an executive branch immigration law expert for three years. He subsequently served as an immigration counsel for the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims for four years. Prior to working on the Judiciary Committee, he wrote decisions for the Board of Immigration Appeals for 20 years. Followhis blogathttps://nolanrappaport.blogspot.com.
Read more from the original source:
Most Americans think surge of illegal border crossings is a crisis | TheHill - The Hill
- New York to Further Shackle ICE to Shield Illegal Aliens - Federation for American Immigration Reform - April 10th, 2026 [April 10th, 2026]
- Virginia Gov. Spanberger addresses reporters on redistricting, illegal immigration - Fox News - April 10th, 2026 [April 10th, 2026]
- Bill creating state illegal immigration crime headed to Lee - Johnson City Press - April 10th, 2026 [April 10th, 2026]
- Letter: In regards to illegal immigration and the No Kings rally - Wadena Pioneer Journal - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Illegal alien sends 2 ICE officers to hospital after attempt to dangerously evade arrest - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Meet one of the medias non-criminals: ICE arrests illegal alien wanted for murder in Virginia - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Bill creating state illegal immigration crime headed to Lee - blackchronicle.com - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Illinois Poised to Pass Another Bill Shielding Illegal Aliens in the State - Federation for American Immigration Reform - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Alito invokes Scalia analogy in birthright citizenship case over illegal immigration - Fox News - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Mass Deportation Coalition Launches Playbook Aimed at Reversing the Harmful Impact of Mass Illegal Immigration - PR Newswire - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Cesar Chavez fought illegal immigration is that why he was canceled so quickly? - The College Fix - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Video | Nitiin Gadkari Raises Alarm On 'Illegal Immigration' In Assam Ahead Of State Elections - NDTV - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Man convicted on incest, other sex charges sentenced to federal prison for illegal immigration - Gulf Coast News and Weather - March 20th, 2026 [March 20th, 2026]
- FAIR Launches Investigation into Illegal Aliens Access to the U.S. Banking System - Federation for American Immigration Reform - March 20th, 2026 [March 20th, 2026]
- ICE Houston lodges detainers on 2 criminal illegal aliens arrested for intoxicated manslaughter in past month - U.S. Immigration and Customs... - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- Letters: Trump has stemmed tide of illegal immigration that leads to many ills - NOLA.com - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- Birmingham man charged with impeding arrest of person accused of illegal immigration - WBRC - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- Sen. John Cornyn calls Texas mass shooting a sad but familiar story, warns of illegal immigration - Fox News - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- Utahns first or eroding the Utah way? House OKs measure cracking down on illegal immigration - KSL.com - March 2nd, 2026 [March 2nd, 2026]
- Is the government meeting its pledges on illegal immigration and asylum? - BBC - March 2nd, 2026 [March 2nd, 2026]
- California to Spend $35 Million to Prevent the Deportation of Illegal Aliens - Federation for American Immigration Reform - March 2nd, 2026 [March 2nd, 2026]
- ICE Special Response Team arrests criminal illegal alien alleged sex offender and human smuggler in Minneapolis - U.S. Immigration and Customs... - February 26th, 2026 [February 26th, 2026]
- ICE Harrisonburg arrests illegal alien with extensive criminal history - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - February 26th, 2026 [February 26th, 2026]
- Imposition of Visa Restrictions on Uzbekistanis Facilitating Illegal Immigration to the United States - U.S. Department of State (.gov) - February 26th, 2026 [February 26th, 2026]
- ICE arrests violent criminal illegal alien who murdered a toddler in Wisconsin - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - February 26th, 2026 [February 26th, 2026]
- ICE deports Jamaican criminal illegal alien convicted of murdering a father of 7 - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - February 26th, 2026 [February 26th, 2026]
- ICE, federal partners arrest criminal illegal alien from El Salvador convicted of murder - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - February 26th, 2026 [February 26th, 2026]
- ICE Buffalo investigation lands criminal illegal alien 25-year prison sentence for distribution of child sexual abuse material - U.S. Immigration and... - February 26th, 2026 [February 26th, 2026]
- Criminal illegal alien sentenced to prison for assaulting ICE officers during Massachusetts arrest - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Chicago mayor orders CPD to document illegal activity by immigration agents - FOX 32 Chicago - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Chicago mayor tells police to probe allegations of illegal activity by immigration agents - Reuters - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- The Left is Badly Misreading the Politics of Illegal Immigration - American Enterprise Institute - AEI - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago ordered city police on Saturday to formally document and report aggressive and potentially illegal federal... - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Opinion | The left is badly misreading the politics of illegal immigration - The Washington Post - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Federal Court Will Hear Minnesota Claims That Immigration Surge is Illegal - The New York Times - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Letters: News outlets are denigrating federal agents and glossing over the reality of illegal immigration - chicagotribune.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Chaffetz: Democrats Have Overplayed Their Hand On Illegal Immigration - FOX News Radio - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- VOTE: Do you agree with the way ICE is conducting its illegal immigration crackdown? - WPEC - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- ICE arrests dozens of criminal illegal aliens convicted of murder, child rape and more in sanctuary state Minnesota - ICE | U.S. Immigration and... - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- VOTE: Do you agree with the way ICE is conducting its illegal immigration crackdown? - National News Desk - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Cochran: Illegal immigration, enforcement of laws to be at forefront of assembly session - The Daily Post-Athenian - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Report: Hundreds more federal agents to arrive in Twin Cities for illegal immigration and fraud crackdown - Star Tribune - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Who's Responsible? Identity Theft Fueled by Government Inaction and Illegal Immigration - Herald/Review Media - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Report: Hundreds more federal agents to arrive in Twin Cities for illegal immigration and fraud crackdown - Red Lake Nation News - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Who's Responsible? Identity Theft Fueled by Government Inaction and Illegal Immigration - RealClearInvestigations - January 2nd, 2026 [January 2nd, 2026]
- 2025 Year in Review: Border Security and Illegal Immigration - thetexan.news - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- ICE Operation Highway Sentinel arrests over 100 illegal alien truck drivers in Gavin Newsoms California - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs... - December 27th, 2025 [December 27th, 2025]
- ED Attaches Assets Worth Rs 5.41 Crore Over Illegal Immigration To US - NDTV - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Is the government meeting its pledges on illegal immigration and asylum? - AOL.com - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- ROSEN: Ruben Navarette glosses over illegal part of immigration - Sentinel Colorado - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- HUDs Turner blames housing affordability crisis on unchecked illegal immigration - Scotsman Guide - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- TSA and DHS team up to crackdown on illegal immigration in the air - Fox News - December 14th, 2025 [December 14th, 2025]
- OPINION: Its Time For Cities To Join The Fight Against Illegal Immigration - Dallas Express - December 14th, 2025 [December 14th, 2025]
- Tory shadow minister praises Trumps illegal immigration crackdown and says it could work in UK - the-independent.com - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Vances Misleading Claims on Housing Prices and Illegal Immigration - FactCheck.org - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- The truth about crime and illegal immigration is even worse than you imagine - The Telegraph - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- ICE Buffalo arrests notorious drug trafficker and criminal illegal alien from Ukraine who attempted to exploit immigration law to hide from justice -... - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Tory shadow minister praises Trumps illegal immigration crackdown and says it could work in UK - AOL.com - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Since the inauguration of the second Trump administration, illegal immigration crackdowns have been - - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- UAE Introduces Strict Visa Rules To Enhance National Security, Imposing Hefty Fines And Prison Terms For Illegal Immigration And Misuse Of Travel... - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Illegal immigration under Trump and Biden: What numbers reveal - MSN - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Illegal immigration is hurting U.S. economy: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent - Fox News - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Carter calls for increased ICE presence in Atlanta to address criminal illegal immigration problem - U.S. Representative Buddy Carter (.gov) - November 20th, 2025 [November 20th, 2025]
- Florida Takes the Lead to Eliminate Burdens of Illegal Immigration - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 20th, 2025 [November 20th, 2025]
- Trumps claims about murder rates and illegal immigration fit red states more than blue states - WBEZ Chicago - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Violent criminal illegal alien apprehended by ICE after high-stakes operation in Chicago - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Deterring Illegal Immigration: This Town Decided that Actions Speak Louder than Words - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Texas and Ohio Review Voter Rolls to Eliminate Illegal Alien Voting - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Their plan was a flood of illegal immigration. Our answer is an immigration moratorium - Fox News - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- ICE arrests Guatemalan illegal alien convicted of felony breaking and entering in Virginia - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- ICE and Oklahoma bolster public safety on states highways by removing 34 illegal alien truck drivers - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Illegal Immigrants To Be Hit Hard As SNAP and WIC Benefits Expire - Center for Immigration Studies - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Illegal Aliens Seek Less Effective Tracking System - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Leon Sheriff's Office gets OK for $500K reimbursement for role in illegal immigration crackdown - Tallahassee Democrat - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Illegal Migrant Stabs Man Who Was Walking His Dog in the U.K. Exposes Truth Illegal Immigration - Megyn Kelly The Devil May Care - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Judge rules immigration detention of Chicago man with daughter battling cancer is illegal - CNN - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Judge rules immigration detention of Chicago man with daughter battling cancer is illegal - AP News - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- ICE lodges arrest detainer for criminal illegal alien who killed 3 in California while driving 18-wheeler under the influence - ICE | U.S. Immigration... - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- White House condemns Illegal immigration as Indian truck driver kills three in California crash - The Indian EYE - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more illegal alien criminals on Thursday as the Democrat-led shutdown continued into its fourth... - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]