The June 2022 Minority Report from the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations sheds light on the border crisis caused by the large influx of illegal migrants and the changing strategies used by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) to smuggle and exploit individuals.
Some conservatives argue that these programs may inadvertently incentivize illegal immigration, drawing a parallel to the decrease in drug-related crimes observed in cities that have legalized drugs. The policies implemented by Biden to address illegal immigration are likely to exacerbate the issue. By providing pathways to legitimacy, these policies inadvertently incentivize more individuals to attempt to enter the US illegally. Consequently, this surge in demand for illegal immigration leads to an increase in human trafficking, a problem primarily controlled by drug cartels. The rise in demand for human trafficking drives up prices, allowing cartels to profit even more from smuggling undocumented individuals into the United States.
DACA protects from deportation and grants legal work authorization to individuals who arrived in the US as children. However, programs like DACA and others aimed at minors inadvertently contribute to child trafficking, as some parents may choose to have their children smuggled into the US as a means to reunite with the rest of their families. There are instances where children are taken or traded and transported across the border as unaccompanied minors, whom US authorities will later release to individuals claiming to be their family members in the United States.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) shields citizens from specific countries facing conflict or natural disasters from deportation. However, it does not confer legal status and may inadvertently encourage illegal immigration. Biden’s Immigration Parole program, which permits a monthly intake of 30,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. legally, is a significant regression.
The United States boasts one of the highest standards of living globally, with an average annual income of approximately $70,000, placing it in 8th place worldwide. Interestingly, the seven countries with a higher per capita income than the U.S. have particularly stringent immigration laws.
