This document discusses how migration journeys and border crossings vary depending on country of origin and have become more difficult over time due to increased border enforcement. It provides data showing a decrease in border patrol apprehensions between 2002-2011 while the number of border patrol agents has increased. The document poses discussion questions about the different challenges faced by Jamaican, Dominican, Guatemalan, and Brazilian migrants and how enhanced border security has made crossings more dangerous.
2. Class Goals
• Develop an understanding of how migration
journeys vary across time and depending on
the country of origin.
• Develop an understanding of how enhanced
border enforcement make migrants more
vulnerable.
11. Questions for discussion
• Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are both
Caribbean islands. Why do you think there is so much
more variation in terms of how Dominicans get to the
United States?
• How has border enforcement on the southern border
of the United States changed over time?
• How does enhanced border enforcement make
migrants more vulnerable?
• Compare the border crossing stories of two of the
migrants discussed in this chapter. How were their
journeys distinct? How were they affected by
immigration laws and policies in different ways?
12. Class Goals: RECAP
• Develop an understanding of how migration
journeys vary across time and depending on
the country of origin.
• Develop an understanding of how enhanced
border enforcement make migrants more
vulnerable.
Hinweis der Redaktion
Since 2008, we have witnessed a shift towards more ICE apprehensions. In 2002, ICE apprehensions accounted for 10% of all DHS apprehensions. By 2011, that figure was nearly 50%.
Image credit
The United States government is already spending unprecedented amounts of money on immigration law enforcement: the total budget authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is $60 billion – one fifth of which goes to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Another $2 billion will not make them more effective unless there is a fundamental shift in policy.
Image credit: http://www.wola.org/commentary/what_new_border_patrol_statistics_tell_us_about_changing_migration_from_latin_america
At present, the policy has been that more funding means more agents and more technology. DHS funds have been used to place increasing numbers of CBP agents along the border. There were over 18,000 CBP agents along the US-Mexico border in 2013, as compared to 2,500 in 1993. The number of agents has increased fairly consistently since 1993, even during those years when fewer migrants were attempting to enter the United States. This constant uptick in the number of CBP agents has made the agency more powerful, but has done little to stem the flow of migrants.
There is little correlation between the number of CBP agents along the border and the number of migrants apprehended. Instead, apprehensions are related to the number of people trying to enter. When a lot of migrants attempt to enter, CBP apprehends a lot of people. When fewer migrants attempt to enter, they capture fewer. These apprehensions also track well with economic changes – when unemployment is low, more people try to come in. When there are no jobs, fewer migrants attempt to enter.
There were 1.6 million CBP apprehensions along the US-Mexico border in 2000, when there were 8,5000 agents stationed along that border. Last year, we had 18,000 CBP agents along the border and there were 400,000 apprehensions – of which 40,000 were Central American children. In 2013 year, the average CBP agent apprehended 22 unauthorized migrants. This is compared to over 300 apprehensions per CBP agent in 1996.
All of the Jamaicans interviewed traveled to the United States on a plane – either with a temporary or permanent visa.
Did they face any challenges?
Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/7ErCPY
Dominicans came a variety of ways:
Yolas
Cargo ships
Through Mexico
Via airplane (with legitimate or fabricated documents)
Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/7nboFs
Guatemalans often have to travel illegally all the way across Mexico.
What challenges to they face during this journey?
Image credit:
Brazilians came to the US a variety of ways, usually leaving Brazil by plane.
What is the role of “coyotes” in helping Brazilians get to the United States?
Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/b7nnoZ