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For Seventh Consecutive Year Visa Overstays Exceeded Illegal Border Crossings

As the Trump administration demands funding for a border wall to stop illegal immigration, a new study finds that for the seventh consecutive year, visa overstays far exceeded unauthorized border crossings.

The report released Wednesday by the Center for Migration Studies of New York finds that from 2016-2017, visa overstayers accounted for 62 percent of the newly undocumented, while 38 percent had crossed a border illegally.

"It is clear from our research that persons who overstay their visas add to the US undocumented population at a higher rate than border crossers. This is not a blip, but a trend which has become the norm," said Donald Kerwin, CMS's executive director in a statement. "As these numbers indicate, construction of hundreds of more miles of border wall would not address the challenge of irregular migration into our country, far from it."

The study also finds that the undocumented population from Mexico fell by almost 400,000 people in 2017 and that since 2010 the number of undocumented from that country fell by 1.3 million.

"We have made tremendous progress since the year 2000 in reducing undocumented immigration into this country," the study's author, CMS senior fellow Robert Warren, told NPR.

 

Warren was the Director of Statistics at the Immigration and Naturalization Service from 1986 to 1995. He said that both the Bush and Obama administrations had roughly doubled the size of the Border Patrol and the country has seen results.

"In another era, we would be celebrating our success," said Warren.

The study also finds that in 2017, for the first time, the unauthorized population from Mexico constituted less than one-half of all the undocumented people in the U.S.

At the same time, Mexico was the leading country for visa overstays in 2016, "about twice the number from India, China and Venezuela," according to the study. The number of undocumented people coming from Venezuela, which is wracked by political and economic turmoil, increased from 60,000 in 2013 to 145,000 in 2017. Virtually all are visa overstays.

"Since more than one half of all US undocumented residents arrive by air, visa-issuing posts have become the real frontline deterrent to undocumented migration," the study concludes. "This report suggests that more attention and resources should be given to that crucial mission of the US Department of State."

https://www.npr.org/2019/01/16...ExnmRF55pf8RWYgCilIE

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1130 posted:

how about we start enforcing laws?   Local law enforcement should be helping with this.   The challenge of border isn't just illegals, however it is drugs, trafficking also.  Congress allows our tax dollars to go to illegal and legal immigrants, and other countries.   vote congress out.

Like most defenses, a multi-layered effort is necessary.  A border barrier with cameras, where feasible, to slow down and funnel those attempting to enter. Drones to cover the areas, where barriers aren't feasible.  Together, the Border Patrol has a better change of apprehending illegals.  Those who cross illegally are the known unknowns.  We screen those who fly in and overstay their visas.  The illegals who sneak in -- we have no idea who they are unless we catch them.  To catch those are already here, a phased in E-Verify is necessary.  Denying them an opportunity for a job, denies them a reason for staying here.  If states and cities use federal funds to grant welfare to illegals, treat that as fraud.  Make the cities and states pay it back, or cut what they have coming until the funds are recouped.

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