Is There a Migrant Crisis at the Border?

Policy Matters

Growing numbers of undocumented migrants crossing the Mexico-U.S. border have raised a political firestorm in the United States, with some – particularly Republicans – calling the situation a “crisis.” Polling suggests that handling migration may be a weak spot in President Biden’s otherwise popular agenda. What are the numbers when it comes to undocumented crossings at our southern border? How is Biden’s approach different from Trump’s? Why is immigration reform so difficult in the United States? This episode has two guests. The first is Dr. Tony Payan, the Francoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at the Baker Institute. The second is Ms. Pamela Lizette Cruz. She is a Research Analyst at the Center. Their work on U.S.-Mexican border issues and immigration can be found on the Baker Institute website.