Mexican Border Surge as ‘Trump Effect’ on Immigration Wanes

Despite the administration’s celebration of the “Trump effect,” which allegedly stemmed immigration and sent border apprehensions to a 17-year low, new data released by the Department of Homeland Security shows that the number of migrants trying to enter the U.S. has once again surged. Southern Border Patrol officers are now stopping more than 1,000 people per day, according to the DHS numbers. Though Trump’s language on immigration may have been a temporary deterrent, some say the effect of his position was diminished by his lack of action. Ruben Garcia, the director of a shelter in El Paso that gives temporary housing to border-crossers, told The New York Times: “After it became evident that there wasn’t a dramatic change on the part of the administration, then the smugglers started selling their product again and the flow began to resume.” Garcia highlighted Trump’s plan to ramp up the hiring of more border agents, which never materialized without funding from Congress, and noted that the border wall—a centerpiece of Trump’s presidential campaign—has not been built.