The best alternative for fixing our current illegal immigration policy
By Jonathan Haggerty, opinion contributor — 11/19/19 10:00 AM EST
The best alternative for fixing our current illegal immigration policy
Apprehensions at the southwest border reached their highest level in more than a decade this fiscal year. That number is still much lower than the highs of the early 2000s, and declined precipitously over the last few months. Still, the sharp rise is worrying. A working immigration system should deter illegal immigration rather than encourage it. So how can the administration effectively dissuade illegal immigration?
Let us look at the costs and benefits facing potential immigrants. Our overwhelmed immigration court system currently provides a major incentive to cross illegally. The immigration court backlog has doubled since the start of this administration, from roughly 500,000 cases to over one million cases, with wait times averaging 1,450 days before a hearing is scheduled. This backlog creates capacity shortages in detention centers, as the government cannot indefinitely detain every person awaiting a court date. With the knowledge that they will likely be released for a significant period of time awaiting a disposition, many aspiring migrants have an incentive to cross illegally and claim asylum.
https://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/471034-the-best-alternative-for-fixing-our-current-illegal-immigration-policy
