Border apprehensions on the rise along Southwest border
Border apprehensions have been on the rise since April of 2017, according to Customs and Border Protection.
In April of 2017, there were a total of 15,766 apprehensions along the southwest border. The figure increased to 19,940 in May of 2017 and more than tripled in March of 2018 to 50,308.
“The crisis at our Southwest border is real. The number of illegal border crossings during the month of March shows an urgent need to address the ongoing situation at the border. We saw a 203 percent increase from March 2017 compared to March 2018 and a 37 percent increase from last month to this month – the largest increase from month to month since 2011,” Tyler Houlton, DHS press secretary said.
These numbers were released as President Trump is deploying National Guard troops to the border. On Thursday, he said he wanted to send 2,000 and 4,000 National Guard members to the U.S.-Mexico border to help federal officials fight illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
“Illegal aliens continue to exploit our immigration laws. We need to close these dangerous loopholes that are being taken advantage of each and every day, gain operational control of the border, and fully fund the border wall system. As the President has repeatedly said, all options are on the table,” Houlton said.
“Many asylum-seekers don’t cross the border illegally. They go to the port of entry they ask for asylum they’re asking they’re seeking protection from persecution in their home country.”
Immigration attorney Daniel Caudillo says those who plan to seek asylum are doing it the right way.
“It is not illegal to ask for asylum. It is a right that every individual has to come to this country and seek refuge if they’re being persecuted in the home country,” Caudillo said.
The process is long. Once they request asylum, they’re taken into custody. In order to be granted asylum, they must prove credible fear but Caudillo says it could be a few weeks before they get an interview. Once that’s completed and if they find a positive determination, then it’s handed to an immigration judge for a full hearing.
“That could be months before that case is heard and that individual will often times remained detained throughout that proceeding,” Caudillo said.
Even then, their chances of being granted asylum are slim.
“At this point in the El Paso area, any requests these individuals be released are about 99-100% denied,” Caudillo said.
