Confronting Illegal Mass Migration at America’s Southern Border
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Illegal immigration has long burdened the United States, costing taxpayers over $100 billion annually and fueling spikes in violent crime. President Donald J. Trump’s administration took decisive action to secure the border, erecting over 450 miles of wall, reforming sanctuary city and catch-and-release policies, and achieving an 87% reduction in crossings where barriers were built.
Key Findings:
- Mass Migration Routes: Hundreds of thousands cross annually via Central American corridors, often enduring violence and exploitation by smugglers (“Coyotes”). In FY20, nearly 1.5 million illegal aliens entered or attempted entry.
- Criminal Impact: In FY20, ICE arrested over 103,000 illegal aliens, 90% with prior criminal charges including homicides, robberies, assaults, and sex crimes. Nearly half of all removed illegal aliens had serious criminal backgrounds.
- Origins: Over 90% of illegal migrants come from Mexico and the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras). In FY19, Northern Triangle migration surged 172% year-over-year. Migrants also arrive from Asia, South America, and beyond.
- Education & Skills: Roughly 60% of migrants from Mexico and the Northern Triangle lack a high school education, and over 75% lack English proficiency. Most find work in low-wage sectors like landscaping, crop production, janitorial services, and food service.
- Labor Market Effects: Illegal aliens, though 3.2% of the U.S. population, dominate industries like landscaping (21%), crop production (22%), and janitorial services (19%), displacing American workers and suppressing wages.
Policy Contrast:
- Trump’s Actions: Strong border enforcement, wall construction, and tightened immigration policies reduced crossings and crime.
- Biden’s Reversal: The Biden-Harris administration halted wall construction, rolled back Trump’s executive orders, and embraced open border policies—moves critics argue will worsen crime, labor displacement, and fiscal burdens.
This report highlights the scale, causes, and consequences of illegal mass migration, contrasting the Trump administration’s secure border strategy with the Biden administration’s rollback of proven enforcement measures.