All opinions expressed in this article are solely the opinions of the contributors.
Following an executive order issued by President Joe Biden, Border Patrol apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border in June 2024 were 29% lower than the previous month. This represents the lowest monthly number of encounters along the southwest border since January 2021. Although these numbers are still above most of those seen during President Trump’s term, they have now become more comparable to the border crossings from that period.
Watch the video above as Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan explains why it has become more difficult for migrants to make their way north. Zeihan also breaks down why building a wall is not the solution for managing illegal border crossings.
Be the first to know when Peter Zeihan publishes a new commentary! Download the Straight Arrow News app and enable push notifications today!
Excerpted from Peter’s Aug. 8 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:
It’s time that we discuss the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. What’s going on and how is it all going to shake out?
Over 2 million people crossed the border illegally last year. Crossings appear to have been decreasing over the past six months thanks to executive orders by President Biden (although, they were first part of a Republican proposal). While these crossings might be happening via Mexico, the majority of those entering the U.S. illegally are not Mexican.
These migrants are coming from Central American countries like Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as countries like India, Russia and China. While some of these people used to enter legally, policy changes have forced them to cross via more illicit means. Physical barriers can only do so much in preventing these crossings, so it may be time to explore political solutions.
Since most of these migrants are entering through Mexico, that should be the first line of defense. Discussions between Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Amlo) and President Biden have led to positive trends in managing border crossings. However, this issue is constantly evolving and will require much more than a big wall and soft handshakes to sort out.
