Border Patrol Agents have reported that in March this year, the number of people detained at the river crossing through the Rio Grande was just 4,143 and this is a drastic drop when compared to the figure of 15,579 recorded in January. This decline is attributed to the firm stand that Donald Trump has taken on illegal immigrants.
The Rio Grande crossing the route that illegal immigrants take when they try to enter the United States from Mexico and thousands have lost their lives in the process. The journey is a treacherous one, and many of them drown.
More than 300 had died in just six months in 2015 when they wanted to make use of uncharted sections of the river.
The drop in crossing over
According to Daily Mail, the Border Patrol agents feel that illegal migrants have realized that taking risks to enter the US is not worth the trouble, especially when chances to stay on are slim. This is evident from the decline in illegal border crossing from other entry points like Yuma in Arizona and El Paso in Texas.
In the opinion of the authorities, the maximum number of crossings took place towards the end of 2016 when as many as 56,000 were arrested or turned away in the month of September alone. Then followed the next three busiest months in the last five year period when there was a rush to gain entry before the new President took over.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection believes that the drop in crossover attempts is a result of the crackdown by the Executive Orders of Donald Trump to enforce immigration laws and build a border wall – the order was signed on January 25, three days after Trump was sworn in. It was the fear factor that did the trick.
Is the border wall needed?
Constructing the Mexico border wall was a point in the election campaign of Donald Trump, and it found a prominent place in the Executive Order on immigration after he became the President. The wall was supposed to be a physical one that would cover the full length of the border. However, given the automatic reduction in crossover attempts that is reported, it would be worthwhile to reexamine the issue.
This question arises because, even though the new immigration laws are yet to be implemented in full, the effects can be felt. There is hesitation among the illegal immigrants, and a relook can always be taken on a project that may not be required. Constructing such a long wall is not only time-consuming affair but would also involve vast sums of money. Therefore, there is a need to go into all the pros and cons and take a final decision.
