Thousands of economic migrants are currently sitting on the U.S. border after traveling as a political group together through Mexico. The “caravan” is just the most visible example of Hondurans, Guatemalans, and El Salvadorans trying in record numbers to illegally enter the U.S., waving Honduran and Guatemalan flags, while they claim a “right” to invade our country. Our failure to secure our southern border has very real, concerning implications for our nation’s security.
To begin, we know MS-13 gang members are there. Regardless of whether this particular caravan of economic migrants contains a terrorist contingent, it still highlights to those who are interested in hurting the U.S. that our laws can be flaunted and that illegal entry into the U.S. is easy. It’s clear this message is spreading: As rumors of possible amnesty spread this past fall, Border Patrol reported a surge in illegal crossings. It’s clear that our border policies are encouraging lawbreaking. From 2009-2016, the number of aliens claiming credible fear skyrocketed from 5,000 to 94,000 in 2016, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
