144,278 people were apprehended at the US/Mexico border in May
The US/Mexico border saw a near 32% increase in border crossings in May from the high April numbers. The official numbers were released on Thursday, June 6th.
Trump responded by threatening tariffs on Mexico. The tariffs were taken off the table when Mexico promised to house more asylum seekers in Mexico while the US processed their applications for asylum.
Keeping people asylum seekers in Mexico is a band-aid to a significant problem. Even with Mexico keeping tens of thousands in Mexico waiting for their asylum cases to clear the border docket, hundreds of thousands more are likely to come before Christmas. New refugee camps dotting the Northern Mexico landscape may destabilize Mexican economic, security, and political goals.
Sadly, I still don’t see leadership from either party with ideas that make sense to deal with the stream of people looking for a better life in the US. As things get hotter across Mexico, the migrant numbers should slow in June/July/August. If the weather stays cool, or if Central America falls further into chaos, the stream will remain steady.
