Border apprehensions continued their steady upward trend in July, with more than 40,000 illegal aliens apprehended – up more than 20 percent from June apprehension numbers and more than double those of April. Single adults from Mexico accounted for nearly 90 percent of the apprehensions, a dramatic change from roughly a year ago when the vast majority of apprehensions were from Central America.
Complicating this growing crisis is the incredibly low morale among many of the men and women who are guarding the “thin green line,” according to a Border Patrol agent who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Being demoralized by members of Congress and the mainstream media” is causing a growing crisis in morale the agent said.
Border Patrol agents, along with other members of America’s law enforcement community, have been the target for constant, harsh criticism from the left for simply performing the jobs that Congress and local governments have set out for them.
Vice presidential aspirant Kamala Harris compared immigration enforcement agents to the Ku Klux Klan during a hearing in 2017, and presidential aspirant Joe Biden is actively campaigning on a mass amnesty for the nation’s 14.3 million illegal immigrants, a promise that most Border Patrol agents agree will incentivize future illegal immigration, making their jobs even more dangerous and difficult. This kind of anti-enforcement rhetoric helped ignite attacks against immigration enforcement agents, such as the recent attack on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Bend, Oregon.
Aware of this ongoing rhetorical and physical assault on the men and women in green, FAIR members submitted comments of gratitude and thanks to the Border Patrol and ICE agents who lay their lives on the line every day to protect the safety and health of the nation. A sample of those comments include:
- “Thank you for keeping our borders secure. Thank you for your service.” -John H.
- “I just wanted to take 5 min of my time to tell the Border Patrol that not just anyone can do your job its dangerous and mentally hard on all of you and I personally want to thank each and every one of you for protecting America from people entering illegally and smuggling drugs across that end up in children’s hands and criminals too. Thanks for all you do I really Appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!” -Robert W.
- “Just wanted you to know that a large majority of the American people appreciate all the sacrifices you have made to protect our families and our way of life. God bless you and your families. You are the true patriots!!!!” -Mick & Julia
- “To all members of the border patrol, we appreciate all that you do to protect our great country. Keep up the excellent work that you are doing and know that America supports you!” -Bill R.
These comments are not a fluke. In fact, polls consistently show that regardless of the ongoing attacks from the left and the media, Americans across the board support secure borders and sensible immigration policies.