[Immigration News]
January 26, 2017 – President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed toward illegal immigration.
The first order will begin construction of a wall along Mexico’s border. The construction of the border wall will start “in months,” Trump stated in his first presidential interview with ABC’s David Muir. The order would direct existing federal funds toward the initial construction of the wall and the president himself estimated the cost of the wall to be 10 billion dollars. While the initial funding to build the wall will come from American taxpayers, Trump has repeatedly stated that ultimately Mexico will reimburse American taxpayers for construction costs. In response, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and other Mexican officials have openly refused to pay for the wall stating that it is “unacceptable” to try and get a neighboring country to pay for it and Mexico “will not pay for any wall.”
The second executive order signed will stop Federal funding to certain sanctuary cities that shield undocumented immigrants from deportations and triples resources for enforcement to increase deportations.
Presidential Executive Order: The Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvement
- Build border wall:
- Direct Congress and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use existing money to start building wall
- Regulate the flow of drugs, crime, and illegal immigration into the US
- Provides DHS with more tools and resources to stop illegal immigration
- Hire 5,000 more border patrol agents and an additional 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to carry out deportations
- Build additional detention facilities along border
- End Catch-and-Release Policy for Illegal Immigrants
- This policy allowed illegal immigrants that were caught to be released while they wait for a hearing with an immigration judge
- Prioritize prosecution and deportation of illegal immigrants that have violated US laws
- Stop Federal grant money to sanctuary states and cities that harbor illegal immigrants
Details of the Border Wall
Cost: About $10 billion dollars according to President Trump. Others have estimated the cost to be closer to $15 billion, possibly $25 billion (Bernstein Research). These estimates DO NOT include the cost of buying the land where the wall will be built.
Size: 1,933 miles long and about 40 feet high
Location: Southern border along CA, AZ, NM, and TX
History of the Border Wall
- 2017: President Donald Trump signed executive orders directing construction of a border wall
- 2016: There is nearly 700 miles of fence (about 18 feet in height)that runs along the US-Mexico border
- 2006: President George W. Bush signed the “Secure Fence Act” that allowed more barriers and surveillance equipment
Immigration Statistics
The following information was provided by the Homeland Security Office of Immigration Statistics annual flow report:
- S. Border Patrol Apprehensions
- In 2014: 486,651 apprehensions
- In 2013: 420,789 apprehensions
- In 2012: 364,768 apprehensions
- In 2011: 340,252 apprehensions
- In 2010: 463,382 apprehensions
- Naturalizations
- In 2015: 730,259 total individuals
- In 2014: 653,416 total individuals
- In 2013: 779,929 total individuals
- In 2012: 757,434 total individuals
- In 2011: 694,193 total individuals
- In 2010: 619,913 total individuals
- US Nonimmigrant Admissions
- 2015: Over 181 million
- 2014: Over 180 million
- 2013: 173 million
- 2012: 165 million
- 2011: 159 million
- 2010: 160 million
- Refugees and Asylees Admitted to the U.S.
- 2015: 69,920 total individuals
- 2014: 69,975 total individuals
- 2013: 69,909 total individuals
- 2012: 58,179 total individuals
- 2011: 56,384 total individuals
- 2010: 73,293 total individuals
Need Immigration Help?
For over 60 years, Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, LLP have helped individuals, families, and businesses with immigration issues all throughout the United States. With the recent changes U.S. immigration law is now facing, get your immigration questions answered by contacting a reputable New York immigration lawyer online or by calling 800-223-2814.
