Harris and Trump’s Border Policies Will Lead To More Deaths at the Border
Restricting asylum and focusing on enforcement-only policies have historically been detrimental to migrant safety
Preventing migrants from entering the U.S. through deterrence has historically created more dangers and had little effect on the number of border crossings. Such actions have led to more than 7,500 known migrant deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border - a number that is understood to be grossly undercounted as it can take years to find the remains of those who die.
Deterrence-only policies force migrants to attempt crossing into the U.S. through more remote and desolate areas. Currently, the vast majority of asylum-seekers who cross between points of entry immediately turn themselves over to border patrol agents to claim asylum as required by U.S. law which states clearly that you must be on U.S. soil to claim asylum.
“Any alien who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters), irrespective of such alien’s status, may apply for asylum in accordance with this section or, where applicable, section 1225(b) of this title.” - 8 U.S. Code § 1158
Deterrence, enforcement, and limiting the reasons for claiming asylum will only force migrants to cross through more deadly terrain and flee from border patrol should they encounter agents. This also leads to higher numbers of “known gotaways,” a term conservatives have latched onto to justify their xenophobia. Rather, the solutions, as we all know, lie in the U.S. removing itself from intervening in foreign nation's political and social affairs which often create inhospitable environments forcing people to leave their home countries.
While many cite President Biden’s executive actions to restrict asylum claims (that violate U.S. and international law) for lower numbers at the border, the reality is that Latin American countries acting as border enforcement proxies for the U.S. are responsible for the sharp drop. The little-known and rarely discussed Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection implemented in 2022 is a partnership agreement between the U.S. and 22 Latin American countries.
The declaration provides billions of dollars to those countries to help stem the flow of migrants from Latin America through enforcement-only policies. The declaration does not address the root causes of irregular migration but stops migrants from heading north and forces them into other Latin American and Caribbean island nations. While it may sound good on paper, there is no way to track the treatment of migrants which has come under much scrutiny.
“It was the strongest border security bill we have seen in decades,” Kamala Harris said in Arizona on Saturday. “It was endorsed by the Border Patrol union. And it should be in effect today, producing results in real-time, right now, for our country. But Donald Trump tanked it. He picked up the phone and called some friends in Congress and said, ‘Stop the bill’.”
Closing the border, a far-right talking point that is now bipartisan, will not only be detrimental to migrants but promises to have a major cross-border and broader economic impact. Another fact many continue to ignore is the positive impact asylum-seekers are having and will have on the U.S. economy and federal revenues. In July, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the most recent migrant “surge” will increase revenue by $1.2 trillion over the next decade.
That will result in a $900 billion budget deficit cut during that time.
Meanwhile, the political talking points are focused on silencing blatantly racist and xenophobic rhetoric coming from Republicans by implementing anti-immigrant policy ideas. The recent so-called “bipartisan border deal” is an example of that. The bill is a gift to the far-right enacting many policies they have been advocating for. It flies in the face of Biden’s campaign trail promises to protect asylum and reform the system.
“We will seal the border, we will stop the invasion immediately, we will begin the largest deportation operation in the history of our country because we have no choice,” Trump said on Saturday in Wisconsin.
Instead, the bill – which Kamala Harris is promising to pass – reinforces the broken-by-design system put in place by former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. It also bolsters the current policies of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which are increasingly used against U.S. citizens in violation of some U.S. laws and civil rights. There are many growing issues with the two agencies that are not being addressed with a lack of accountability being at the top of that list.
Immigration is a complex issue that transcends the monolithic discussion focused on the border as millions sit and wait for their green cards who have been here for more than a decade. The system needs much more than the far-right idea of militarizing the border and should rather be focused on a more humane approach instead of making the problems worse. As we all know, the so-called “humanitarian crisis” at the border is one created by the United States.
Exacerbating that only further convicts the U.S. and its lack of concern for human life.