The months of January to February have seen a 40% decline in the number of illegal immigrants who have made their way from Mexico to the United States. These statistics were reported by the US government.
John Kelly, Homeland Security Chief, said that the decline was as a result of President Trump’s tough policies on illegal immigration. Since the administration’s implementation of executive orders to enforce immigration laws, apprehensions and inadmissible activity is trending toward the lowest monthly total in at least the last five years,” he said.
President Trump’s efforts in reducing illegal immigration have included issuing an executive order for the construction of an “impassable physical barrier” along the US-Mexico border. He has also published new guidance on deportation rules. The policies have been planned despite Mexico terming them as “hostile” and “unacceptable.”
The Homeland Security Chief went on to say that only 18,762 “inadmissible persons” were able to cross the border in February, as compared to 31,758 in January. The period between the two months usually has an increase in the number of arrests made by Border Police with regards to illegal immigration.
New Policies made by President Trump have included plans to send undocumented people living in the US to Mexico regardless of whether they are Mexicans. Further, the new policies would also broaden the criteria under which immigrants can be deported.
Additionally, the government has cited that these policies do not encourage mass deportations. Instead, they look to empower law enforcement so that they can act within the law over a larger spectrum. The President had made immigration and border patrol a key issue in his campaign, where he promised that America would be protected from “bad dudes.”
President Trump has on many occasions said that he plans to construct a wall between Mexico and the US. He has also said that the expenses for the wall will be paid by Mexico, claims that the Mexican government has consistently refused. Trump plans to make Mexico pay for the wall have included revising the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, US, and Canada. He would then levy higher taxes on Mexican imports and use these levies to fund the wall’s construction.
In accordance to immigration, the Trump administration also saw the revised travel officially documented on Monday when it was signed. This new ban targets six mainly Muslim countries whose citizens will be barred from obtaining new visas to the United States. The ban, however, has been challenged legally by a group of lawyers from Hawaii. The state lawyers said that the rule should be blocked in line with the fact that its implementation in Hawaii would affect the area’s businesses and schools; doing more harm than good.
The revised ban places the 120-day prohibition of all refugees and prohibits citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and Sudan from being able to obtain visas to the United States. The other six countries previously on the other ban will also face a 90-day travel ban with the onset of the President’s new directive. The revised ban will take effect on 16th March this year.
