US authorities have taken the unprecedented step of closing bridges and ports along the border with Mexico in an effort to contain illegal immigration. On Monday, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shut down several important crossings, including a pair of railway bridges in Texas, a bridge for vehicles seeking entry into the US, and reduced another bridge to just one lane. This move has not only stranded thousands of migrants on the border but has also disrupted cross-border activities ahead of the busy Christmas week. In addition to these measures, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law granting state police the power to arrest and deport migrants crossing the border illegally. This decision received criticism from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who argued that Texas had no jurisdiction in federal matters. According to CBP data, over 10,000 arrests are being made daily along the entire US-Mexico border in December, with 3,000 migrants already detained in Eagle Pass, most of them from Venezuela, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
As a result of the surge in illegal immigration, the US population has experienced significant growth. A new report from the US Census Bureau reveals that international migration, driven by the influx of immigrants, has been the primary factor behind this population increase. In the last two decades, the United States added 1.6 million people to its population, with more than two-thirds attributed to international migration. The nation’s population now stands at 334.9 million. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions initially impacted population growth, but immigration rebounded last year, reaching almost 1 million people. This trend continued in 2021, with 1.1 million immigrants entering the US, a level not seen since 2001. Without immigration, experts project that the US population would have declined over time. William Frey, a demographer at The Brookings Institution, highlights the importance of immigration for future growth, stating, The immigration piece is going to be the main source of growth in the future.
The closure of bridges and ports along the US-Mexico border marks an unprecedented effort by US authorities to curb illegal immigration. While it has stranded thousands of migrants and disrupted cross-border activity, Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s signing of a law empowering state police to arrest and deport illegal migrants has drawn criticism from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The surge in illegal immigration has contributed to a substantial increase in the US population, driven by international migration. A new report from the US Census Bureau reveals that over the past two decades, 1.6 million people have been added to the US population, with more than two-thirds coming from international migration. This surge in immigration, which started rebounding last year and continued in 2021, is expected to be the main source of population growth in the future. Experts emphasize the significance of immigration for sustaining and enhancing the nation’s population.
