Trump steps up immigration crackdown

President Donald Trump is considering deploying up to 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and using military bases to hold migrants awaiting deportation, according to media reports

Tijuana
Laredo
Ciudad Juárez
Nogales
Yuma
MEXICO
Tucson
Rio Grande
CALIFORNIA
ARIZONA
NEW MEXICO
UNITED STATES
TEXAS
PACIFIC OCEAN
Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of California
Fence / barrier
200km
125 miles

El Paso
San Diego
Initial 1,500 troops – to be sent to San Diego and El Paso – will join 2,500 soldiers already at border

MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS AT U.S.-MEXICO BORDER (000s, monthly)

Trump calls current migration an “invasion”, but crossings under President Joe Biden dropped significantly last year thanks to increased enforcement by Mexico and implemention of asylum restrictions

May 2019
144,116
Dec 2023
301,981
Dec 2024
96,048

050
100
150
200
250
300
2023
2021
2019
2024
2022
2020
2018
2017
TRUMP
BIDEN

Sources: CBS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Picture: Getty Images
© GRAPHIC NEWS