We’ve reported here–and we’ve frequently seen reported elsewhere–that large numbers of illegal migrants crossing our southern border are nowadays willingly, even eagerly, presenting themselves to U.S. authorities for arrest, in hopes of claiming asylum. This has been especially true this year, and it is especially true of family units.
Yet information is coming out that a large majority of adult illegals continue to want to enter America the old-fashioned way: by sneaking in unnoticed and passing up the charade of an asylum application.
In a July 26 opinion piece in the Washington Examiner, columnist Paul Pedard writes that most single adults “do not want asylum and instead want to sneak in undetected.” He cites El Paso sector U.S. Custom and Border Protection: “More than 77% of the primary demographic apprehended are single adults attempting to evade arrest and NOT seek asylum.”
In the El Paso sector, 104,208 single adults have been encountered so far this fiscal year, compared with a total of 39,006 of all FY 2020. Bedard calls these numbers “shocking and historic” and “the latest sign that the illegal immigration crisis has reached a catastrophic stage [emphasis added].”
One reason why illegal crossers hope to avoid detection is that many are carrying illegal drugs. In the El Paso sector alone this year, the following drug seizures have occurred (no one knows the quantities that have gotten through):
- More than 5,000 pounds of marijuana
- More than 600 pounds of methamphetamine
- More than 300 pounds of cocaine
- More than 40 pounds of fentanyl
- More than 30 pounds of heroin
For more, see the Washington Examiner.