Illegal migration hits new high in November as families surge across border

[Tennis]

The Border Patrol nabbed more than 15,000 illegal immigrants traveling as families on the southwest border in November — a massive increase that marks the worst November on record and the second worst overall, according to statistics released Thursday.
The number of children traveling without parents also ticked up, topping 7,000 for the month, but it’s the surge of families that is straining the Border Patrol and testing the Obama administration’s resolve.

Combined, the children and families fleeing Central America for the U.S. have reshaped the challenges of the illegal migration problem, sending overall illegal immigration numbers back to levels not seen in years. The 47,214 illegal border crossings reported in November is 44 percent higher than in 2015 and marks the worst November in years.
The families and children are trying new methods, including showing up and demanding entry to the U.S. Officers at the legal ports of entry reported a 226 percent spike in children they encountered in October and November, compared with the same two months in 2015.

Obama officials blame conditions in Central America, saying poverty and violence in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala are forcing people to make the trip north.
But the Border Patrol’s chief told Congress that U.S. policy is inviting the surge because migrants, coached by the smugglers they are paying, have learned to game the system.

The worst month for children and families was June 2014, the peak of the previous surge. But migration is cyclical, and the fact that this year had the worst November on record suggests that fiscal year 2017, which began in October, is poised to set more records for families.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency that oversees the border, said the surge goes beyond Central Americans.
Haitians displaced by natural disasters, who have been living in Brazil for years, also have been making their way north. Authorities are seeing an increase in the number of Cubans, too, the agency said.

“CBP continues to maintain a strong security posture through background checks of all individuals encountered and ensures that each person is processed in accordance with U.S. immigration laws and DHS policy,” the agency said.
CBP has opened more processing facilities to handle the workloads and has taken 150 agents from elsewhere and sent them to Texas, which is handling most of the surge.
Agents who should be on the front lines are instead assigned to baby-sitting duties, Border Patrol Chief Mark Morgan told Congress last month, recounting a conversation he had with senior officers in Texas.

“The supervisor that was in charge said, ‘You know, Chief, we’re going to do whatever this country asks us to do. But I never thought in my 20 years that I would be as part of the procurement ordering baby powder and baby wipes,’” Mr. Morgan said. “Agents, one of their jobs during the day is to actually make sure that the food, the burritos that were provided, are being warmed properly.”
He said the children and families are being used as a distraction, keeping agents occupied while drugs are smuggled in elsewhere.
The Border Patrol is supposed to quickly process the children and families and send them on to other agencies. The children go to social workers, while the families are to be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that handles deportations.

ICE says its policy is also to quickly process the families and release those without security issues, but the families often refuse to show up for deportation hearings.
The agency said the best way to make sure people show up for deportation hearings is to hold them in custody. As of last month, ICE had expanded the number of beds used to hold migrants to 41,000 — far more than the 32,000 it was holding on an average day in 2015.
That has drawn fire from immigrant rights groups, which say holding families with children is inhumane.
On Wednesday the United Nations joined the chorus of complaints, issuing a call to nations around the globe to stop holding migrant children in detention.
“Let us be clear: Immigration detention is never in the best interests of the child,” said the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Even short periods of detention have an adverse and long-lasting effect on a child’s development, on their physical and mental well-being, and might aggravate previous trauma experienced in the countries of origin or transit.”

Obama administration officials insist they provide families with adequate care but have struggled with how to balance the needs of enforcement with humanitarian obligations.

Many of the migrants have figured out how to game the system and exploit the administration’s struggles. Nearly one in 10 encountered at the border now are demanding asylum, using what Mr. Morgan called “magic words” to bypass the usual deportation procedure and get released quickly.

They are still supposed to be in the deportation process but often don’t bother to show for their hearings.
The Border Patrol is reporting a massive increase in the number of Haitians abusing the system.
Over the past two months, nearly 5,700 Haitians have shown up at ports of entry, demanding to be let in despite not having permission. That is just shy of the 6,400 for all of the previous fiscal year and far more than the 334 encountered in all of 2015.
Many of the Haitians are using the “magic words” formula to demand entry, officials said.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ber-families-/

What can we do about this? Given the large number of people who aren't legal citizens, the government really needs to take action and provide a pathway to citizenship.

We can't have millions in the underground economy who don't pay taxes and who are likely being exploited. One thing is certain, we all need to stand against cruel treatment of children. There's no excuse for holding them in detention like what has been described.

[Darsithis]

We can't have millions in the underground economy who don't pay taxes and who are likely being exploited. One thing is certain, we all need to stand against cruel treatment of children. There's no excuse for holding them in detention like what has been described.

Please just fucking stop.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PAY TAXES.

Anyone who works, buys anything - food, clothes, a car, a home, they all pay taxes. They all contribute. They also expand the consumer base, providing more revenue for companies to hire more people to fulfill them.

It is a complicated thing. I agree that illegal immigration should be stemmed if only for the fact we have legal, valid channels to come here through, but please stop spreading this crap that people who cross illegally are some kind of underground shadow nation eating at our resources.

[PC2]

What can we do about this? Given the large number of people who aren't legal citizens, the government really needs to take action and provide a pathway to citizenship.

We can't deport every single illegal, but we should try to deport as many as possible.

[xenogear3]

Why not?

With strong US dollar, you are sending more money to Mexico if you work in US.

[Draftswe]

Exactly. VAT on items contribute. Blaming immigrants is a way for politicans to further advance their propaganda in a very disgusting way,

[Tennis]

Please just fucking stop.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PAY TAXES.

Anyone who works, buys anything - food, clothes, a car, a home, they all pay taxes. They all contribute. They also expand the consumer base, providing more revenue for companies to hire more people to fulfill them.

It is a complicated thing. I agree that illegal immigration should be stemmed if only for the fact we have legal, valid channels to come here through, but please stop spreading this crap that people who cross illegally are some kind of underground shadow nation eating at our resources.

CNBC disagrees. There's a huge loss of income to the state due to the underground economy.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100668336

What the government is keeping track of is lost revenues. According to the Internal Revenue Service, about $500 billion in taxes were lost last year because of unreported wages, versus $384 billion in 2001.

"The effects of the underground economy are larger than we think," said David Fiorenza. "The result is less tax money paid to the various levels of government."

"Those working and not paying the taxes puts the burden on those who pay the tax," added Fiorenza. "Taxes could be lower if the government where able to capture the underground economy instead of raising taxes on those currently paying the various income and payroll taxes."

But the dangers of a shadow economy go beyond dollars and cents, analysts said. Workers who aren't on the books don't get Social Security or health benefits, and worse.

"People who do these types of jobs run the risk of getting exploited with lower pay or not being paid at all," Gonzalez said. "There could be more exploitation if more people are forced into this type of economy."

"Some income is better than none, but there is a reason we have certain regulations in place to protect workers and what they do," McHenry said.

500 billion in lost revenue. This is reason enough to create a pathway to citizenship.

[Independent voter]

Combined, the children and families fleeing Central America for the U.S. have reshaped the challenges of the illegal migration problem,

Fleeing? They are coming to the US for the money.

Why doesn't Canada let US citizens flee to Canada?

[Darsithis]

CNBC disagrees. There's a huge loss of income to the state due to the underground economy.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100668336

There is some underground economy, that's true, though, as they pointed out, it is mostly caused by drug trafficking and not specifically undocumented immigrants.

[Forgettable]

What can we do about this? Given the large number of people who aren't legal citizens, the government really needs to take action and provide a pathway to citizenship.

We can't have millions in the underground economy who don't pay taxes and who are likely being exploited. One thing is certain, we all need to stand against cruel treatment of children. There's no excuse for holding them in detention like what has been described.

Stop saying "we." You don't live in the US.

[Calfredd]

Stop saying "we." You don't live in the US.

As one poster joked about, he apparently has citizenship with Canada, USA, England, and Germany.

[Deleted]

CNBC disagrees. There's a huge loss of income to the state due to the underground economy.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100668336

Come on. The only underground economy of note is that of drug lords, human trafficking, sex workers, arms dealing and information brokering. Illegal immigrants might be involved in some of those, but they are merely a participant, not a cause or effect. Remove your immigrants and you're still facing the same underground economy.

What they call underground economy is illegal employment and quite often what keeps prices in foodservice outlets affordable. Belgium has introduced a system that severely clamps down on this in our hotels, restaurants and cafés which caused a price increase of +3.5% and 8.1% more cases of bankruptcy than was to be expected. In my own province that figure is even +58%.
It also caused 33% of restaurants to add 1 extra closure date to their weekly schedule in order to cut costs.

There are far bigger arguments against illegal immigrations than flimsy ones like that.

[Ehrenpanzer]

Fleeing? They are coming to the US for the money.

Why doesn't Canada let US citizens flee to Canada?

Did you see the 2 braying jackasses you guys picked to choose between for President? We are all under the assumption America is populated solely by idiots, and since we have enough of those already, the border is closed.

[primalmatter]

They have to go back.

[Deleted]

Please just fucking stop.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PAY TAXES.

Anyone who works, buys anything - food, clothes, a car, a home, they all pay taxes. They all contribute. They also expand the consumer base, providing more revenue for companies to hire more people to fulfill them.

It is a complicated thing. I agree that illegal immigration should be stemmed if only for the fact we have legal, valid channels to come here through, but please stop spreading this crap that people who cross illegally are some kind of underground shadow nation eating at our resources.

No. Paying taxes is giving 50% of your paycheck to the government. Those of us that actually DO pay taxes have all those other expenses too.

Or perhaps you are ok with me also not paying any taxes? I'm still "contributing" right?

You liberals....

[Ehrenpanzer]

As one poster joked about, he apparently has citizenship with Canada, USA, England, and Germany.

Which actually isn't impossible. Horrifically improbable and would be a MASSIVE tax hit every year though....

[primalmatter]

Did you see the 2 braying jackasses you guys picked to choose between for President? We are all under the assumption America is populated solely by idiots, and since we have enough of those already, the border is closed.

We really can't talk... we have if you let your enemies kill you, you win guy..

[bladeXcrasher]

When will Canada step-up as a beacon of hope and take these people from Central America with open arms and open hearts? @Tennisace

[Deleted]

You are spitting in my face when you claim they "pay taxes" makes me so god damn pissed.

[Calfredd]

You are spitting in my face when you claim they "pay taxes" makes me so god damn pissed.

Well they do pay taxes, they don't pay all the taxes but they do pay taxes. I'm sorry you feel like you got spit on but it's true.

[Rennadrel]

Pro tip OP, in Canada we have more immigrants who don't wind up having to pay taxes (their income tax deductions get paid back in full) because they make minimum wage than there are those that actually earn an income that requires them to pay taxes. I am sure that is the same in the USA.