Why You Need to Pay Attention to What’s Happening at the Border
We’ve all seen the images of families crossing the border from Mexico into Texas. I want you to be aware of what’s really going on and to know the truth about the border crisis. Since the Biden administration lifted Title 42, we have the worst illegal immigration situation in history. The U.S. is being invaded like never before, and, as a result, we’re facing a national security threat and a public safety crisis.
Since Biden took office in January 2021, the U.S. southern border has had at least 6.3 million migrant encounters, according to data from the Office of Homeland Security Statistics. The result? More than 2.4 million migrants have been allowed into the country. 1 In December 2023, the U.S. border patrol had over 300,000 encounters along the southwest border. 2
Title 42, also known as the Public Health Act, was enacted during the Trump administration to allow border agents to expel asylum seekers. With Title 42 gone, even convicted felons are allowed into the U.S.
We’re facing an enormous national security vulnerability. Mark Morgan, former Acting Customs and Border Control Commissioner, reported that drug cartels have tactical plans in place and are bringing adult men across the border. 3 Dangerous criminals we know nothing about are illegally crossing over the border and into our nation.
Recent criminals crossing the border include men arrested for assaulting a girl under 12, an alleged murderer, and men charged with sexually abusing a girl under age 10. 4
Don’t you think these little girls deserve justice? And these are just a few of the more recent crimes.
When you open your borders indiscriminately, terrible things happen to innocent people, many of them children. About 85,000 children, who have sponsors, have come across the border, and we don’t know where they are, reports Openthebooks.com, an organization tracking government spending. 5 Innocent children are being sold into human trafficking. If we let our guard down and allow criminals easy access to our country, how many more children and families will suffer?
An emergency Supreme Court ruling on January 22 testifies to the severity of the situation. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been in a legal dispute with the Biden administration for putting up razor wire fence on about 30 miles along the Mexican border to keep immigrants from coming into Texas.
The U.S. Supreme Court voted in favor of permitting federal officials to cut the wire on the Texas/Mexico border. The 5–4 ruling is a victory for the Biden administration, reports The New York Times. 6
“The razor wire issue is playing out as part of a larger standoff in which Abbott argues by not acting more forcefully at the border, the federal government has violated its responsibility to protect the state from ‘invasion,’” noted CNN Politics. 7
Following the Supreme Court ruling, 25 governors have signed a letter of support for Governor Abbot in the effort for the state to have the constitutional right to defend itself. On January 26, Donald Trump also asked states to send National Guard troops to the border to assist with border security. 8
The border crisis also impacts each of us financially. The cost of illegal immigration to each American taxpayer is $1,156 per year ($957 after factoring in taxes paid by illegal aliens), according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). Refugee and entrance assistance went from $8.925 billion in fiscal year 2022 to $10.928 billion in fiscal year 2023, reports Openthebooks.com. 9
“The ongoing border crisis and the dramatic increase in the illegal immigrant population in the last three years will come at a significant cost to taxpayers,” said Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research Center for Immigration Studies, in a prepared testimony to a House Judiciary Committee on January 11, 2024. “We need an immigration policy that reflects current realities, and we need to rigorously enforce it.” 10
As believers, how should we respond to the present border crisis?
- Educate yourself.
Stay informed about what’s happening and where, as well as the causes, policies, people, and decisions that are being made. Look at the history of immigration into the U.S., and understand the present day situation.
- Demonstrate love and compassion.
The Word of God is full of instructions about caring for the poor, destitute, and distressed. While we should never do anything to promote, enable, or excuse illegal immigration, we should do everything we possibly can to demonstrate the love of Christ to immigrants.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
—Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
Consider contributing to or even volunteering with reputable organizations who are providing aid and support to immigrants who are following the law.
- Speak up and vote.
Write to or call elected officials to express your concerns.
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.
—Titus 3:1 (ESV)
- Pray.
Remember that our country was founded by immigrants seeking religious freedom and a better way of life. Pray for all of those affected, the policymakers, and our nation.
Stay on guard!
Watch “The Border Is Worse Than We Thought” episode of Drenda on Guard now.
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Endnotes
1. Muzaffar Chisti, Kathleen Bush-Joseph, and Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, “Biden at the Three-Year Mark: The Most Active Immigration Presidency Yet Is Mired in Border Crisis Narrative,” Policy Beat, Migration Policy Institute, Biden at the Three-Year Mark: The Most Active Immigration Presidency Yet Is Mired in Border Crisis Narrative, January 19, 2024
2. CBP Releases December 2023 Monthly Update,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection, https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-december-2023-monthly-update, January 26, 2024
3. Mark Morgan, “Migrants Surging in Remote Border Sectors,” Newsmax, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6smCeDPPLqg, May 29, 2021
4. Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), https://www.fairus.org/
5. Adam Andrzejewski, “U.S. Spent $13 Billion Sponsoring Unaccompanied Minor Children at the Border Since 2012, https://openthebooks.substack.com/p/us-spent-13-billion-sponsoring-unaccompanied, May 25, 2023
6. Supreme Court Backs Biden in Dispute with Texas Over Border Barrier,” The New York Times, Supreme Court Backs Biden in Dispute With Texas Over Border Barrier – The New York Times (nytimes.com), January 22, 2024
7. Zachary B. Wolfe, “What Texas Is (and Is Not) Doing to Defy a Supreme Court Setback,” CNN, What Texas is (and is not) doing to defy a Supreme Court border setback | CNN Politics, January 27, 2024
8. Katharine Finnerty, “Trump Calls for States to Send National Guard to the Border; GOP Governors Say They ‘Stand with Texas,’” Spectrum News, https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2024/01/26/trump-calls-for-states-to-send-national-guard-to-the-border, January 26, 2024
9. ”The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on United States Taxpayers | 2023 Cost Study,” Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), https://www.fairus.org/issue/publications-resources/fiscal-burden-illegal-immigration-united-states-taxpayers-2023, March 8, 2023
10. ”The Cost of Illegal Immigration to Taxpayers,” Prepared Testimony of Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research Center for Immigration Studies, https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/camarota-testimony.pdf, January 11, 2024
