1. Yes, the word is “Crises.” Perhaps a word just as good is “Invasion.” Ask anyone who lives in a southern border town whose cities and property are flooded with migrants. Ask anyone who lives in a “Sanctuary City” whose services are reduced or eliminated because funds are siphoned off to care for the same. Ask anyone who has been a victim of a crime committed by an alien who should never have been allowed in the country in the first place.
2. Not all migrants are created equal. Some want to become American citizens and assimilate. Others do not want to assimilate and will not do so. We must know the difference. But with so many being allowed in with a pinky swear to show up at the court date years in advance, we don’t know who is who.
3. “Asylum” is the magic word. Migrants have been taught that to get into the United States, all they need to do is claim they desire asylum from bad things from wherever they were before. This word is important to use because the mere desire for greater economic welfare is not in itself a legal reason to be allowed into the United States. Many border observers have learned that the migrants were doing well enough in their own country or the country they were living in previously --- they just weren’t doing as well as they could in the United States. It is a myth that nearly all or even most migrants are fleeing suffering and violence.
4. The world is banging on our doors. At one time the vast majority of migrants came from countries immediately to our south. Now almost half the people come from over 140 other countries. The country with the largest percentage of growth? China. (And why are so many of these Chinese men between the ages of 18 to 40?)
5. A lot of bad people are getting into our country. In the past year alone, over 300 people on our National Terrorist Watch List were caught at the border and from January 2021 through June of 2022 over 900,00 aliens were listed as “got aways” (people who the border patrol knew were trying to enter stealthily but that the border patrol was unable to catch). The people enter through desolate areas because of the likelihood they will be deported if discovered. Why? They are largely criminals of every sort you can imagine.
6. Building walls will not work. Well, unless they are of the 30 foot high sort that was being constructed under the Trump administration. No, they will not stop everyone --- but they will stop practically everyone (unless they happen to be an Olympic athlete or professional mountain climber).
7. The main reason for the crisis is simpler than some would make it. People in other countries have gotten the message that if you get to the border of the United States, you will almost certainly be let in --- especially if you come with a child. Come to the United States and you are welcome. Why the welcome? Well, let us think . . . who would benefit by 3 million new people coming into the country each year?
8. “Selfies” are a part of the problem. Many migrants have a habit of sending pictures of themselves to their relatives back home once they have successfully crossed the border. The message is “Come on in; the water’s fine!”
9. A lot of people are getting hurt on the way. Migrants by the tens of thousands are murdered, die of injury and disease, are assaulted, robbed, trafficked and otherwise abused. The Darien Gap is an especially dangerous part of the trek for so many. (I admit, I had to look up where this place is.)
10. Cartels are getting rich(er) through this traffic. These thugs charge migrants for safe passage, guided tours, transportation, or just to let you live. They are making nearly as much money as they do with drug trafficking --- and that’s saying a lot.
11. We haven’t learned the lessons Europe has. So many European countries welcomed untold migrants with open arms only a few years ago. Now? Not so much. Why? Crime and social disruption. A lot of crime and social disruption.
12. I haven’t given nearly enough evidence on any of these points. Here are some voices to listen to which will give more detail: Todd Bensman, Thomas Hicks of Muckraker.com, Michael Yon, Ryan Matta, Dr. Pete Chambers. They have been there and done that. Best books to read on the issue (in my opinion): Overrun: How Joe Biden Unleashed the Greatest Border Crisis in U. S. History, and America’s Covert Border War: The Untold Story of the Nation’s Battle to Prevent Jihadist Infiltration both by Todd Bensman. Trigger warning: these books are not for the faint of heart.
Joe Moore