Homeland Security: More Than One Million Aliens to Cross Illegally This Year

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Ron Johnson said Tuesday that, according to law enforcement statistics, the U.S. could expect to see 1.1 million people try to illegally cross the border before the fiscal year finished on September 30. Even with Mexico stepping up their efforts to curb Central American migration patterns, Johnson said that the U.S. was experiencing one of the worst illegal migration surges in the nation’s history.

“As of June, first nine months of this final year, 495,000 children and family units have come to this country. If June’s pace continues, we’ll be over 700,000,” said the Wisconsin Republican. “Given this flow, no one should be surprised that Border Patrol stations are well beyond their capacity. Rather than point fingers at the brave men and women of DHS, who have done their best with the limited resources we have provided them, members of Congress should be acting on legislation to solve the underlying problems.”

Joe Biden aside, the 2020 Democratic primaries have been alive with calls to decriminalize illegal border crossings, providing free healthcare insurance to illegal aliens, and other handouts to people who don’t belong in this country. That puts the Democrats out of step with the average American, according to a new poll from Heritage Action for America. Their survey shows that immigration will be the top issue going into 2020 as 21% of Americans see it as their top political concern. Meanwhile, only 7% of survey respondents said that healthcare was their number one priority.

In a piece written for Politico, Tim Chapman of Heritage Action said it was time for Republicans to shore up their messaging on immigration. By doing so, he said, they could win 2020 in a landslide.

“By focusing on crime and job losses, the party and its leaders are making the least persuasive case for border security and immigration reform,” Chapman wrote. “As a result, Democrats feel little public pressure to compromise on the issue, even as their presidential candidates move aggressively leftward by promising the use of social services to illegal immigrants. If politics is a game of contrast, then the GOP can play it much better.”

Chapman contends that by focusing on illegal immigrants and their use of social services, Republicans and Trump can make significant headway with independents and even conservative Democrats who are highly concerned with that issue alone.

One thing is certain: Democrats are far to the left of the voting public on immigration, among many other issues. They are very beatable in 2020. It just remains to be seen if Republicans are ready to take advantage of their weakened condition. Let’s hope so.