This Issue: Border Patrol reports 21% increase in border apprehensions during October

Fri, Nov. 20^th

Border apprehensions were up 21% in October compared to September as a result of weakening economic conditions in Central America and in anticipation of policy changes after the start of the year.

Border Patrol officers apprehended 69,000 illegal border crossers last month compared to 58,000 in September.

The rise is problematic for the Border Patrol considering more than 1,300 Customs and Border Patrol staff are currently under quarantine for Covid, including 700 who have tested positive, according to CBP chief Mark Morgan.

Border apprehensions have been slowly rising since April when apprehensions were only 17,000. The Trump Administration has had the border shut down due to the Coronavirus pandemic, resulting in most illegal border crossers being quickly returned to their home countries.

However, Federal District Judge Emmet Sullivan threw a wrinkle into that policy earlier this week. He issued a temporary nationwide injunction against the swift removal of unaccompanied alien minors who cross the border illegally. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a 16-year-old Guatemalan who was apprehended and returned after crossing the border illegally back in May. Of the 69,000 apprehensions in October, 4,630 were unaccompanied alien minors.

Last spring, the Center for Disease Control issued an emergency public health order, shutting down the border in response to the pandemic.

Looser border restrictions

The rise of illegal border crossings during the month of October was due in part to weakening economic conditions south of the border and a recovering economy in the U.S. But it was also likely due to expectations that Joe Biden would win the November election which would lead to Biden's promised looser restrictions along the border and a 100-day suspension of deportations.

Biden has hired a number of former Obama officials to his transition team, signaling that his Administration would reinstate catch-and-release, loosen asylum rules, and issue work permits to illegal aliens.

"We're going back to Obamaland," NumbersUSA's Rosemary Jenks told the news media about the people who are being mentioned for appointment as Department of Homeland Security officials. "There is no one who has expressed any concern for American workers, for American sovereignty, for American security. It's all about what can we do for immigrants and how to bring in more immigrants."

Chris Chmielenski
NumbersUSA Deputy Director

CNN: Chris commented on recent immigration actions announced by the Trump Administration:

"There's always going to be a higher level of intensity when time is limited," said Chris Chmielenski, deputy director at NumbersUSA. "There has been constant communication between us and administration officials on what we still want done."

Washington Times: Rosemary commented on a proposed rule to deny work permits to illegal aliens ordered removed.

"It is absolutely absurd that we would issue a work permit to alien that has been found by a judge to be removable," she said. "Every one of these people is competing for a job with American workers and legal immigrants."

Breitbart: Rosemary commented on a Mexican ambassador calling for more immigration to the U.S.

"The Mexican ambassador is going to tell us what is in the best interest of Mexico. But that doesn't mean we have to do it -- we have to do what's in the best interest of the United States, of American, of Americans and legal immigrants.

"You know we have the pandemic still raging, we have economic lockdowns still going on, we have unemployment way too high. We have underemployment way too high. We have American citizens hurting. We absolutely do not need to reopen mass immigration -- and certainly don't need to give amnesty and taxpayer benefits to people who came here illegally."

Grassroots Victory! Judge Blocks Gary Indiana's Sanctuary Status

Thu, Nov. 19^th

A Lake County judge in Indiana has recently struck down the city of Gary's "welcoming city" ordinance, a cleverly named sanctuary statute that severely limited local compliance with federal immigration agencies and officers, and provided illegal protections to alien residents and visitors.

USCIS Proposes New Rule to Stop Issuing Work Permits to Aliens Found Removable by Judge

Thu, Nov. 19^th

DHS proposed a new rule early this week to stop illegal aliens from obtaining work permits while they're awaiting deportation, accurately stating that it just doesn't make sense to allow them to hold jobs as their removal process has already begun.

Surprise to Some, Americans from All Walks of Life Support Long-Term Immigration Limits

Tue, Nov. 17^th

According to recent exit polling conducted by Zogby Analytics on behalf of FAIR a majority of voters still strongly favor strengthened border restrictions and tight limits on admission of foreign guest workers during the ongoing health and economic crisis and beyond.

Senators Begin to Explore Prospect of Immigration Deals Under Biden

Tue, Nov. 17^th

Several GOP Sens. have begun to talk of a potential immigration deal with Biden as Congress has tried and failed in recent years to clinch a deal related to "comprehensive immigration reform," reports The Hill.

Federal Judge Blocks Latest DACA Curbs, Could Add 1 Million Aliens to Program

Mon, Nov. 16^th

Judge Garaufis, a Clinton appointee, ruled over the weekend that the administration's latest attempt to curb the Obama-era DACA amnesty program was not legally sound as Chad Wolf is illegally serving as the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.