The latest data released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection last week showed that as of the end of July this year, the number of illegal immigrants arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2022 had reached 1.946 million, breaking the 1.7 million in fiscal year 2021. record.
The US media quoted sources as saying that so far, the number of illegal immigrants arrested at the US-Mexico border in fiscal year 2022 has exceeded 2 million.
Screenshot of Fox News report
At the same time, the human rights issues caused by the U.S. government’s brutal treatment of illegal immigrants have increasingly attracted the attention of the international community.
Immigration policy has triggered a war of words between the two parties.
Analysis believes that the reason behind the record high number of illegal immigrants at the US-Mexico border is the change in the US government's immigration policy.
After the Biden administration took office, it ordered the end of the "Protocol on Migrant Protection" during the Trump administration, which is also commonly known as the "Remain in Mexico" immigration policy.
This policy requires immigrants seeking asylum at the U.S. southern border to return to Mexico to wait while their documents are processed.
On June 30 this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration can suspend this immigration policy. This has also caused more illegal immigrants to flow to the U.S.-Mexico border, putting tremendous pressure on U.S. southern border cities.
Screenshot of the "Texas Tribune" report
In order to prevent illegal immigrants from entering, some Republican local governments decided to repair parts of the border wall.
As early as December last year, Texas began construction of the border wall at its own expense.
Texas is responsible for building part of the border wall
On the 11th of this month, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, issued an executive order deciding to use containers to fill gaps in the state's border wall.
Screenshot of a report by the U.S. current affairs news media "NewsNation"
Tim Romer, head of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, said that this is a "realistic and effective method" to ensure border security.
Tim Romer
The issue of illegal immigration has always been a major focus of debate between the American Republican Party and the Democratic Party.
As expected, the Biden administration's suspension of the "Remain in Mexico" immigration policy has triggered a war of words between the two parties.
Due to dissatisfaction with the immigration policies of Democratic President Biden , beginning in April this year, Texas Governor Abbott, a Republican, ordered illegal immigrants captured at the border to be sent by bus to Washington and New York. , has transported at least thousands of people so far.
Screenshot of report by National Public Radio (NPR)
This move caused huge controversy.
Washington Mayor Bowser twice wrote to the U.S. Department of Defense, saying that the continuous influx of illegal immigrants into the capital has caused a "humanitarian crisis" and requested the dispatch of the National Guard to respond. However, this request was rejected by the Ministry of Defense.
" Washington Post " report screenshot
New York Mayor Adams even engaged in a war of words with Texas Governor Abbott.
Adams recently posted on social media, condemning Abbott for using innocent immigrants to "create a crisis." Later, he appeared on a news program and denounced Abbott's move for political purposes in an attempt to improve his personal image.
Adams social media screenshot
Abbott responded that New York City is an ideal destination for immigrants, "They can enjoy the rich city services and housing touted by Mayor Adams."
Screenshot of the report from "Today's News Spark" website (from left to right in the title picture are New York Mayor Adams and Texas Governor Abbott)
Is the influx of illegal immigrants turning into an "invasion"?
It is worth noting that in the Republican primaries held in various states before this year's midterm elections for the U.S. Congress, candidates frequently described the influx of illegal immigrants as an "invasion" in their speeches.
In previous debates on immigration, the vast majority of candidates avoided using similar words.
The words of politicians undoubtedly have a huge influence on the people who support their parties.
A poll jointly conducted by National Public Radio and Ipsos showed that as many as 76% of Republican respondents agreed or partially agreed with the statement that "the U.S. southern border region is experiencing an immigration 'invasion'", and only 8 % of Republicans said they disagreed; among Democratic respondents, 41% said they agreed or partially agreed, and 34% disagreed.
Screenshot of a report by National Public Radio (NPR)
In addition, a Gallup poll showed that 69% of Republicans hope to reduce the number of immigrants entering the United States. This proportion has also reached a new high since 2014 and continues to Only 17% of Democrats hold this view.
" New York Post " report screenshot
American human rights activist Robert Gonzalez criticized that the Republicans and Democrats are turning the immigration issue into a tool for partisanship.
Gonzalez
Both Republicans and Democrats have made the mistake of using the immigration crisis as a political tool. Whatever their purpose, they did not do what they were supposed to do, and those immigrants were not treated decently and humanely, as politicians claimed. Immigration is becoming part of the electoral battle between both parties.
Muzaffar Chishti, a senior researcher at the American think tank -Immigration Policy Institute, also pointed out that immigrants are being used as pawns in the game between the two parties in the United States. "This is obviously a political strategy that benefits others at the expense of others and is an act of political grandstanding."
Muzaffar Chishti
At a time when the two parties are quarreling over the issue of illegal immigration for political purposes, U.S. law enforcement The brutal treatment of illegal immigrants by personnel has also drawn attention to the violation of human rights of immigrants in the United States.
A video exposed by the U.S. media in September last year showed that the U.S. border police rode on horseback and whipped their whips to drive away asylum seekers from Haiti who were trying to enter the country, and even drove them into the river. The barbaric behavior was shocking. Data from
shows that in fiscal year 2021, U.S. law enforcement arrested approximately 1.7 million illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, the highest number since records began in 1960.
Official data from the United States shows that in fiscal year 2021, as many as 557 immigrants died at the southern border of the United States, more than double the previous fiscal year and a record high since records began in 1998.
Screenshot of CNN (CNN) report
In addition, according to US media reports, most detention facilities for immigrants in the United States are built and operated by private companies. The internal environment is poor, supervision is seriously lacking, and human rights violations occur frequently.
TIME Magazine: Adult and child migrants are held in cramped facilities for days, weeks and even months, sometimes without soap, toothpaste, or a place to wash their hands or shower. Children sleep on concrete floors and some adults have to stand for days because of lack of space. A previous report released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security found that 900 people were crammed into detention facilities that could hold up to 125 people.
The experiences of these immigrants are probably just the tip of the iceberg. The illegal immigration problem in the United States is largely the result of its long-term implementation of hegemony and .
Source: Global Information +
