,
9 tweets,
3 min read
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1/ This government shutdown is all about money for a border wall, and President Trump wants America to believe that the US-Mexico border is in crisis.
That isn't true. Here are 7 facts to help you understand what’s happening at the border.
That isn't true. Here are 7 facts to help you understand what’s happening at the border.
2/ In historical context, illegal border crossings are way down. Border Patrol apprehensions are at the lowest they’ve been since the 1970s.
The difference now is we’re seeing unprecedented numbers of children and families crossing the border.
The difference now is we’re seeing unprecedented numbers of children and families crossing the border.
3/ A 2017 report estimated that children and families made up less than 2% of border crossers between 2003 and 2008. For the past few months, they’ve made up more than half of all apprehensions.
4/ The Trump administration is unequipped to deal with the families and children coming into the country — and the results have been tragic.
Before December 2018, a decade had passed since a child died in Border Patrol custody. In December 2018, two children did.
Before December 2018, a decade had passed since a child died in Border Patrol custody. In December 2018, two children did.
5/ Trump claims we need a wall to stop the flow of drugs coming into the US from Mexico.
It’s true that a lot of drugs come in via the Mexican border. But most come in at legal ports of entry, often hidden in cars or trucks. A wall would have no impact. bit.ly/2SUfNko
It’s true that a lot of drugs come in via the Mexican border. But most come in at legal ports of entry, often hidden in cars or trucks. A wall would have no impact. bit.ly/2SUfNko
6/ There is no evidence of a terrorist crisis at the border. A total of six known or suspected terrorists were caught at the US-Mexico border in the first half of 2018 — not thousands, as White House officials had previously claimed.
7/ Walls are designed to prevent people from crossing into the US undetected. But the kids and families who show up at the border aren’t trying to do that: They’re turning themselves in and asking for asylum.
That's something they could do at a port of entry, even with a wall.
That's something they could do at a port of entry, even with a wall.
8/ A 2017 Pew study found that people who lived less than 350 miles from the border were the least likely to support Trump’s wall.
In other words, the people supposedly on the front lines of what Trump calls a crisis are those least inclined to support his proposed solution.
In other words, the people supposedly on the front lines of what Trump calls a crisis are those least inclined to support his proposed solution.
9/9 Still have questions? Read more about what’s *really* going on at the border, from @dlind: bit.ly/2RKpF2D
