Concerns in regard to potential policy shifts following the 2024 presidential elections have sparked an unprecedented surge in the number of individuals unlawfully entering the U.S. through its southern frontier. This influx occurs under the administration of President Joe Biden, a time that has witnessed a rise in entrants from a variety of nations, including Colombia. This wave is driven by a belief that Biden’s approach is more welcoming, coupled with a dread of tougher measures potentially implemented under a potential Donald Trump’s second term.
Last week, two Colombian nationals crossed into the United States unlawfully via the Arizona border. They spoke to Jennie Taer, a reporter from the New York Post, expressing their concerns over the forthcoming 2024 presidential election. A young man named Ricardo, aged 20, shared his expectation that the situation will become ‘more difficult’ once the elections roll around.
Adding to his brother’s sentiments, 18-year-old Sebastian stated their preference clearly without naming the former president, ‘We don’t favor his return.’ Following their unlawful crossing, the two brothers sought refuge and were housed at the Yuma Regional Center for Border Health, a step that highlights their intent to navigate the legal processes in place.
After spending some time in the Center, the path of Ricardo and Sebastian took them a significant distance from the border. Under escort, they were transported by bus to Phoenix airport from where they embarked on a subsequent flight to their mother’s residence in New Jersey. This odyssey, shared by numerous others, reflects the complex and often arduous journey many have embarked on in pursuit of a better life.
As reported by the New York Post, as part of their legal process, the brothers were assigned a date in October for their asylum hearing by the Customs and Border Protection agents. Although the brothers entered the country unlawfully initially, they appear to be committed to pursuing a legitimate path through the asylum system under the U.S. Immigration policy.
Under the current administration, the number of illegal entries through the southern border has experienced a significant rise compared to the previous administration. Predictably, this development has led to vigorous policy debates and scrutiny from security analysts and political pundits alike. Concerns over border security and immigration policies demand urgent attention and nuanced policies from lawmakers.
To put numbers into perspective, the Border Patrol reported approximately 180,000 encounters along the southern frontier in the past month alone. These encounters reflect the monumental task faced by border protection agencies, and raise pertinent questions regarding border management practices and immigration reform.
Throughout President Biden’s first term, astonishingly close to 10 million nationwide border encounters have been reported. These encounters stretch dramatically beyond the southern border into unprecedented numbers observed at the northern border. The numbers are indicative of the enormity and pan-nation nature of this challenge.
President Biden has made numerous appeals to Congress, urging lawmakers to enact measures to effectively handle the escalating situation at the border. However, despite his vested authority as President, Biden has claimed limitations in his capacity to single-handedly check the burgeoning influx of illegal entrants.
Earlier this month, reports also emerged suggesting that President Biden was considering a more drastic measure. These reckonings hint towards a potential executive order to seal off the southern border if the number of daily encounters goes beyond 4,000, a move that would represent a dramatic policy shift.
In the meanwhile, the 2016 victor, Donald Trump, who rose to prominence with strong rhetoric and policies towards the border crisis and his promise of erecting a wall, isn’t making light of the situation. He’s once again forwarding his intent to introduce stringent measures against illegal immigration if he retakes the presidency.
In discussions pertaining to his political future, the former president has made bold claims about resetting the country’s immigration landscape. Trump has proposed the ‘largest removal’ of individuals residing unlawfully in the U.S. in history, signaling a dramatic contrast to the current policy climate.
Expanding on this bold proposition, he shared with TIME magazine that this purge would target an estimated 15 to 20 million individuals who currently live within U.S. borders without legal status. These ambitious figures underline the controversial nature of the proposals made by the former President.
Adding to the growing list of his controversial proposals, the former president further stated that he would not shy away from involving the National Guard to aid in the substantial deportation task. This idea marks a significant departure from conventional tactics used in enforcing immigration norms.
Trump’s words capture his stance on the matter in stark terms, ‘These are people that aren’t legally in our country. This is an invasion of our country.’ His sentiment reflects a belief system that is shared by a significant segment of the American population, straddling both the ideological divide and the nation’s geographic boundaries. This discourse underscores the criticality of the issue in the national consciousness and hints at the potential for contention in coming elections.
In all, both leaders present contrasting visions of the nation’s immigration policy moving forward. Whereas Biden seems to prioritize a humane approach coupled with efforts for legislative reform, Trump emphasizes stringent enforcement and the need to uphold national sovereignty. The American people will wrestle with these divergent visions as they contemplate the country’s political future and consider what they wish for the nation’s approach to immigration to be.
Illegal Immigrants Say ‘We Don’t Want Trump’, Rush To Border Before Election appeared first on Real News Now.
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