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Illegal Immigration


Issue Summary
Illegal immigrants cost the U.S. $200+ Billion annually. This does not include any government hand outs, but is a total cost for additional school teachers, fire, police to deal with the increased population. Additionally, illegals often get emergency room medical treatment at an additional cost to tax payers. This money could be better spent on education, paying down student debt or improving our crumbling infrastructure. Illegal Aliens but an undue strain on our economy and drive up inflation. Other countries are emptying their prisons and sending these criminals to cross our border illegally, which is resulting in higher crime from these people in our country.
Illegal Immigration - MonthlyBorderCrossings.png

Liberal Position

Under Obama/Biden the policy was to Catch and Release anyone caught entering the country illegally, give them a court date, and let them free into the country.  82% of those that get released never show up for their court date, and of the 18% that do show up, only 2% of those are approved by the court for having a valid reason to enter the country.  That comes out to less than 1% of the people are here for legitimate reasons and 99% are truly here illegally.

The concept of this Catch and Release policy and free education has gotten around the globe and resulted in an increase in the number of caravans heading to the U.S. to seek these free benefits.  This has driven up illegal immigration and the high cost associated with these illegal immigrants.   Under Obama/Biden illegal immigration skyrocketed.  In one month, the border patrol caught people crossing the border from over 140 countries. 

Coming over the southern border are illegal drugs, human trafficing and people carrying viruses that were thought to be erradicated. 

However, when Joe Biden took over as President, he immediately canceled all the policies that were successful under President Donald Trump.  The image above shows the impact that had on border crossings.

Conservative Position

Acknowledging the steep cost of illegal immigration at $200+ Billion annually, and the drag on wages by flooding the workforce with cheaper labor (not just farm labor), was a major issue for the Trump Campaign in 2016.  

With the Biden administrations Catch and Release policy, it was creating large caravans of people seeking asylum in the U.S. putting a massive strain on jobs and the economy. 

The Trump policy to get Mexico to pay for the cost of the wall was as follows:

  • Terminate NAFTA which was creating an influx of workers seeking higher wages in the U.S.
  • Institute USMCA trade deal, forcing higher wages in Mexico, reducing the attraction to move to the U.S. This new deal reduced the Trade deficit with Mexico allowing more funds in the U.S. coffers. 
  • Get Mexico to pay for their policy/army to patrol their own southern border to stop the caravans of illegal immigrants from central america.
  • Get Mexico to pay for people applying for asylum as they stay in Tijuana awaiting their court date, instead of releasing them into the U.S. 

Did Mexico write a check for the wall?  No.  Did Mexico pay for the wall in other ways?  Yes, absolutely.

Last report showed that Illegal immigration was down 70% from the Obama years and illegal drugs coming across the border is down approximately 90%. 

This was a compaign promise fulfilled.  However, when Joe Biden took over as President, he immediately canceled all the policies that were successful under President Donald Trump.  The image above shows the impact that had on border crossings.

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