Trump escalates border wall fight

President Donald Trump’s first prime-time address from the Oval Office reiterated his belief that the “crisis” at the U.S.-Mexico border can only be solved with his wall.
His critics argue that the security risks are overblown


U.S. BORDER PATROL APPREHENSIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS, by fiscal year (Oct-Sep)

2000 	1,643,679
01 	1,235,718
02 	929,809
03 	905,065
04 	1,139,282
05 	1,171,396
06 	1,071,972
07 	858,638
08 	705,005
09 	540,865
10 	447,731
11 	327,577
12 	356,873
13 	414,397
14 	479,371
15 	331,333
16 	408,870
17 	303,916
18 	396,579
19	2019: 102,857

Number of Illegal border crossings down from 1.6 million in 2000 to under 400,000 last year


2018 migrant apprehensions by sector
Border patrol sector

Border length: 3,145km
Existing fence: 1,126km
Pedestrian fence
Vehicle fence

San Diego 38,591
El Centro 29,230
Yuma 26,244
Tucson 52,172
El Paso 31,561
Big Bend 8,045
Del Rio 15,833
Laredo 32,641
Rio Grande 162,262

UNITED STATES
CALIFORNIA
Tijuana
San Diego
PACIFIC OCEAN
ARIZONA
Tucson
Nogales
Gulf of California
MEXICO
NEW MEXICO
El Paso
Ciudad Juárez
TEXAS
Rio Grande
Laredo
Gulf of Mexico

200km 125 miles


Sources: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Center for Investigative Reporting 
© GRAPHIC NEWS