This is one of the big changes....
The demographics changing of who is crossing now has contributed to the surge. We have always had tons of folks crossing....too many....regardless who is in office but with the current policies in place the word is out to everyone. Come on over we aren't doing anything about it. Unaccompanied minors and persons from places other than Mexico have gone through the roof. I read an article saying the change in policy has dramatically lowered the costs. Used to be you had to figure out a way to get from your home to the border then pay a hefty amount or perform dangerous tasks in order to get your escort across the border because if you were caught you were more than likely expelled.....now you just need a bus ticket to walking distance. While the bulk is still is people from Mexico/Central America persons from as far as China have been apprehended walking across to Texas.
Absolutely. I just also think a big part of the discussion needs to be about "why" they feel the need to come. I just read an article about the two back-to-back major hurricanes that hit the Honduras/Guatemala/Nicaragua/El Salvador region that turned large swaths of farmland into lakes. Farmers who lost everything and can't rebuild, and yes with the more "open" border it's less expensive to put yourself in the hands of US law than to try and farm again. There's also the recent lawlessness with MS-13 taking over whole towns. It's bad down there.
What I also find ironic is that Central Americans are largely religious conservatives. They vote blue because of the Republican immigration rhetoric. If Republicans would change that rhetoric and maybe propose common sense immigration reform (easier pathway to citizenship, etc) they may never lose an election again.