Border Patrol arrests along the Mexico border reached their highest levels since 1986. Historical data shows fiscal year 2021’s figure was the highest total ever recorded. U.S. authorities detained more than 1.7 million migrants along the Mexico border during the 2021 fiscal year that ended in September, and arrests by the Border Patrol soared to the highest levels ever recorded, according to unpublished U.S. Customs and Border Protection data obtained by The Washington Post.

Illegal crossings began rising last year but skyrocketed in the months after President Biden took office. As CBP arrests increased this past spring, Biden described the rise as consistent with historical seasonal norms. But the busiest months came during the sweltering heat of July and August, when more than 200,000 migrants were taken into custody. (Nick Miroff, New York Times, October 20).

My comment: I have the greatest sympathy with all the people who trek north under the most trying circumstances. But even I accept that there has to be some limit to the number of migrants any country can cope with. What is missing is reporting on the policies, inactions and conditions in the countries whence the hordes of migrants are coming. If the main problem is local gangsterism and extortion let’s talk about what the US can do about law, order and corruption in countries like Guatemala (if anything), but at least lean on the individual governments to confront the gangs, or, as climate warming gets worse the numbers of migrants will only grow. Am I being naive? Epicurus might well point out that the migrants yearn for peace of mind, but one persons peace of mind is another’s feeling of helplessness and loss of control.