It’s hard to listen to the debate on border security having grown up on the US/Mexico border, crossed it hundreds of times, and be a practicing immigration attorney dealing with border security issues every day. There are so many lies and myths. Here is some reality. As a boy growing up in Laredo, border security was light in the 1980’s & 90’s. We didn’t have to show ID when entering the US, we were often just waived through after declaring our citizenship.

1/9 I represent a few mothers who were separated from their kids. First the good news, all my clients had phone calls w kids. Took a few weeks, but DHS identified correct mother/child and put them in touch. But these kids are 10-12 and know mom’s name, DOB. 2/9 All my clients were charged with and plead guilty to misdemeanor illegal entry, sentenced to very minor sentences of time served, which was a few days at most. These charges are meaningless and do nothing but make the asylum process more complicated and expensive.