Border & Immigration News
The Daily Signal provides border and immigration news, including reporting, analysis, and commentary on policy, enforcement, and political debates.
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- News
Sen. Hawley Tears Congress Apart for ‘Refusal’ to Address Immigration Crisis, Child Smuggling Rings
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley vehemently criticized lawmakers for failing to address one of the darkest results to emerge from the current immigration crisis: child smuggling rings. “It seems to me that the exploitation of children by cartels, human smugglers on the scale that you’re describing is absolutely unbelievable, and quite frankly, the refusal of…Jason Hopkins -
- Opinion
How Open Borders and Sanctuary Policies Victimize (and Kill) Americans
The supporters of open borders and sanctuary policies that obstruct enforcement of our immigration laws must be overjoyed by the latest report from the Department of Homeland Security. The Border Patrol intercepted more than 144,000 illegal aliens at the southwest border in May, the largest monthly total in more than a dozen years. Those who…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
We Hear You: Visiting the Border Patrol in Laredo, Texas
Editor’s note: The Daily Signal’s audience responded to the reporting our Fred Lucas did from the U.S.-Mexico border at Laredo, Texas. Here’s a sampling. Write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: I live on Social Security and do not have funds to donate, but I read and appreciate the information The Daily Signal publishes….Ken McIntyre -
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Mexico Steps Up Illegal Immigration Enforcement After Trump’s Tariff Threat
The Mexican government is showing signs of increased illegal immigration enforcement and cooperation with their U.S. counterparts following President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Around 200 Mexican law enforcement officials blocked a U.S.-bound caravan Wednesday. The caravan, made up of about 1,000 Central American migrants, was heading north on a highway near the town of Metapa. Mexican police…Jason Hopkins -
- News
Federal Judge Rejects House Bid to Stop Trump’s Border Wall
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Monday ruled against House Democrats who tried to block the Trump administration from reallocating Defense Department funds for a border wall. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden said the House of Representatives does not have standing to bring the challenge, calling it a political fight between two branches. “While…Kevin Daley -
- News
Border Patrol Catches 116 Africans at Texas Border
The Border Patrol is seeing an increase in migrants from African countries who are blending in with the large numbers crossing the southern border illegally through Central America. Agents assigned to at the Del Rio, Texas, sector apprehended 116 individuals last week from African countries as they crossed the border from Mexico. Those caught around…Fred Lucas -
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‘Daily, Our Agents Save Somebody’s Life’: Border Patrol Agents Recall Cases of Heroism and Compassion
LAREDO, Texas—Temperatures along the southwest border here average about 90 degrees, and inside the trailer of an 18-wheeler can go up to 120 degrees, said Joel Martinez, deputy chief for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Laredo sector. “We had a 18-wheeler with 120 people in the back. I think seven of them were juveniles,” Martinez told…Fred Lucas -
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No Border Wall, but This Will Have to Do for 1 Texas City
LAREDO, Texas—Pulling up in an SUV outside the 10-foot-tall fence at Laredo College, Narcizo Ramos recalls the problems the school used to have with unwanted visitors. “I actually came to this college as a student,” Ramos, a special operations supervisor for the U.S. Border Patrol, told The Daily Signal. “I can tell you, this little…Fred Lucas -
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Cruz Fires Back After Omar Suggests Latinos Would Struggle in ‘Merit-Based’ Immigration System
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar suggested on Tuesday that individuals from Latin America would not be competitive if the U.S. immigration system was based on merit. “A ‘merit based’ immigration policy is fueled toward the Latinx community,” Omar said in a now-deleted tweet. “Our immigration policies shouldn’t be based on discrimination, fear, or bigotry.” “We…Molly Prince -
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ICE Rips Washington for Passing Sweeping ‘Sanctuary’ Policies Protecting Illegal Immigrants
Immigration and Customs Enforcement ripped Washington for becoming the latest state to enact policies that protect illegal immigrants from local law enforcement and federal authorities. “ICE maintains that cooperation by local law enforcement is an indispensable component of promoting public safety. It’s unfortunate that current local and state laws and policies tie the hands of…Jason Hopkins -
- Opinion
The Real Inclusive Approach to Immigrants
Is President Donald Trump’s call for patriotic assimilation, which is a part of his immigration package, a step toward totalitarianism and fascism? These are the hyperbolic claims made in a contentious op-ed by Fabiola Santiago, a columnist at the Miami Herald. Santiago highlighted my own work in this field, citing a 2016 paper. While ordinarily…Mike Gonzalez -
- Opinion
House Appropriators Vote to Handcuff Pentagon for Reprogramming Funds to Border Wall
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee has slashed the Pentagon’s reprogramming authority by 75% in the approved defense appropriations bill reported out on May 15. The subcommittee, led by Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., reduced the ability of the Defense Department to shift unused resources from lower to higher priorities within the department from $4 billion or…Frederico Bartels -
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California Considers Spending Billions on Health Care for Illegal Immigrants
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan for government-funded health care for illegal immigrants is frugal compared to proposals by other Democratic leaders in his state. Newsom, the progressive first-term governor of California and ardent opponent of the Trump administration, wants to offer free health care services to low-income illegal migrants between the ages of 19 and…Jason Hopkins -
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Trump Rolls Out Merit-Based Plan to Transform Immigration System
President Donald Trump introduced what he called a “big, beautiful, bold” plan to “transform America’s immigration system” from one of random entry to a meritocracy. “Instead of admitting people through random chance, we will establish simple, universal criteria for admission to the United States,” Trump said Thursday in the Rose Garden. “No matter where in…Fred Lucas -
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Trump Seeks to Unify GOP Around Immigration Goals
President Donald Trump hopes to unite Republicans behind new immigration goals that focus on border security and a merit-based system that keeps legal immigration at current levels. The president is set to deliver a Rose Garden address on the plan at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Trump wants more people coming to the country to fill new…Fred Lucas -
- News
Lindsey Graham Proposes to Tighten Asylum, Immigration Procedures to Relieve Border
The flow of migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. would be cut off before they cross the southern border illegally, under changes to immigration law proposed Wednesday by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “There has been a 64% increase in people apprehended at the border, family units,” Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said during…Rachel del Guidice -
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An Illegal Immigrant Killed Her Son, a Police Officer. Here’s How This Mom Fights to Save Others.
A mother whose son died after a car wreck caused by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record who was drunk and high on drugs says his death left a permanent scar on her life. “When he was taken from me, there was a huge part of my life that was taken,” Mary Ann Mendoza…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Keeping Fake Illegal Immigrant Families Together
Who remembers the hysterical sound and fury of open borders leftists last summer over President Donald Trump’s detention and enforcement policies at our besieged southern border? Remember the #FamiliesBelongTogether, #WhereAreTheChildren, #AbolishICE, and #MeltICE hashtags? Remember the “Trump Child Abuse,” “Free the Children,” “Save the Children,” and “AMERICANS DON’T USE CHILDREN AS PAWNS” posters wielded at…Michelle Malkin -
- Opinion
Judges Can’t Ignore Immigration Laws They Don’t Like
Remember when judges used to uphold the law? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case today. Consider the Massachusetts trial judge who is accused of helping a twice-deported illegal immigrant slip out the back door rather than hand him over to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent waiting to arrest him. According to authorities, Massachusetts District Court Judge Shelley Joseph…Hans von Spakovsky