The increasing number of migrants gathering at the U.S.-Mexico border highlights a significant factor that Democratic Party politicians often downplay: U.S. border policy plays a significant role in determining the number of people attempting to enter the country illegally.
The current surge in migration is largely driven by the impending expiration of Title 42, a policy implemented during the Covid pandemic that allows authorities to swiftly expel many migrants who enter the country without permission, instead of allowing them to stay while their cases are considered in court. Title 42 is set to expire on Thursday, coinciding with the end of the official Covid health emergency.
In recent weeks, word has spread throughout Latin America that entering the U.S. will soon become easier. Smugglers have informed potential migrants that the upcoming period will be a favorable time to attempt crossing the border, as stated by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico. U.S. officials anticipate that the daily number of illegal crossings, which has hovered around 7,500, could soon exceed 12,000, according to Eileen Sullivan, a colleague at The New York Times.
Father Rafael Garcia of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown El Paso described the situation as a real crisis.
While Democrats and progressive activists often emphasize external factors, such as wars and political oppression, that drive undocumented immigration, the pull factors within the U.S. also play a significant role. The strength of the economy and the stringency of border security are among these factors.
When the U.S. makes it difficult for individuals to enter the country illegally, fewer people attempt the journey north. Conversely, when the U.S. sends signals that crossing the border without permission may be possible and that individuals could potentially remain in the country for years, more people are motivated to try.
The pattern is evident. Donald Trump, the most anti-immigration president in decades, promised to build a border wall and used racist language to demean immigrants. When Joe Biden campaigned for president in 2020, he promised a more welcoming approach. After his election victory, the number of people attempting to enter the country without permission spiked.
“There are feedback loops,” explained Julia Gelatt, a sociologist at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington.
Immigration has become a highly polarized issue, obscuring its complexities and trade-offs. While many Republicans denigrate immigrants, research by economists Ran Abramitzky and Leah Boustan has shown that immigrant families have continued to thrive in recent decades. The children and grandchildren of immigrants have achieved upward mobility at rates similar to those in the 1800s and early 1900s.
On the other hand, Democrats have sometimes sidestepped the difficult questions surrounding immigration policy. A relatively lenient approach to border security also has its downsides. Early in Biden’s presidency, thousands of people from Latin America left their homes and embarked on perilous journeys northward. Some successfully reached the U.S. and now have a chance at a better future, but others have found themselves trapped in crowded and dangerous conditions in northern Mexico, highlighting the humanitarian problems caused by a porous border.
The recent surge in migration has strained social services and shelters in Texas and Arizona cities, overwhelming local authorities. Even cities far from the border, like Chicago and New York, have struggled to cope with the influx. Mayor Eric Adams of New York, a Democrat, criticized the Biden administration, stating, “The president and the White House have failed New York City on this issue. Why are you doing this to New York?”
In response, the Biden administration has adjusted its approach. In early January, Biden implemented a tougher policy aimed at deterring migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua who did not have a valid claim of political oppression. The policy also provided new opportunities for legal entry into the U.S
