So here is the fundamental question: What is the administration doing about this?
And I don't mean slow-walking interviews at border crossings, which is actually SPURRING unlawful entry, or trying to build the Wall, which won't change this actual trend just the athleticism of those trying to get in.
Are we doing anything different or new with Central American countries people are fleeing to improve the economic and security situation there? Not that I can see.
Are we building facilities-- not tent cities-- equipped to intake families, as opposed to single men? Unclear.
Are we increasing the number of, say, H2 visas so that those among this group who are actually MIGRANTS can apply in their home countries, get vetted, and come here to work in an orderly fashion? Because Texas homebuilders and ag need the workers.
And by the way, when workers come here on those visas, their employers are responsible for their housing, health care, etc., so this is one way we ensure immigrants aren't relying on public dollars AT ALL.
Bottom line is, this administration has had 2 yrs to address what they perceive as a massive problem with unlawful immigration. Almost all of this is within the purview of the executive. Congress plays a small role. They've failed by their own standards.
If you're someone who genuinely believes unlawful immigration and/or immigrants are a problem, you should be asking why support the Trump administration at all. And "they're trying" shouldn't be the answer, because THEY ARE NOT.
Personally, I'd just increase visas + make it a lot easier for people who are ready to come here and work hard to do it legally, a process by which they pledge not to take welfare (or they get deported). That's a process that allows in-home-country vetting
A bunch of our employers in ag and construction are crying out for this because they do not have workers that do those jobs in those areas of the US, and those that would cannot/will not relocate. It's a sad fact.
But the reality is, if you're still underwater on your mortgage, so you can't move, your marriage is broken up so you can't move unless you don't want to see your kids, if you live in, say, Ohio, you are NOT moving to Houston to instal drywall
Likewise, you are not moving to WA to pick apples, or FL to pick oranges. And the only way we change that is if we do a massive bailout of everyone who's still underwater on their mortgages and somehow put marriages back together (never gonna happen)
But my guess is that a lot of people trying to come in right now are actually angling for jobs like this. Yes, they used to be done by men traveling in alone. But guess what? Women can and will do construction and ag work, too :)
I'm also willing to bet VP understands this very well in his heart. This is a guy that Ann Coulter chided for proposing "touchback amnesty" back in 2006 or 2007. He wouldn't have proposed that if he didn't a) have compassion b) see an economic need
