In March 2020, the government implemented Title 42, a policy that denied asylum seekers entry without processing their claims, citing public health concerns due to the pandemic. This policy expired on May 11, and there were widespread predictions of chaos and a surge of illegal migrants at the border. However, these predictions turned out to be incorrect. The New York Times and NPR reported “few signs of disorder” and a decrease in unauthorized border crossings. This highlights a misconception that harsh border policies are the main deterrent against migration.
While there are humanitarian and economic objections to harsh deterrence policies, let’s focus on the fact that these policies have failed to achieve their intended goals. People do not make the decision to leave their home countries lightly, and they are driven by various factors such as war, economic devastation, or the desire to live with family members. The belief that tightening U.S. border policies will significantly impact people’s decision to migrate is flawed.
The concept of prevention through deterrence has been a cornerstone of U.S. border policy since the mid-1990s. The strategy was to make border-crossing more difficult and risky to deter potential migrants. However, this approach has not proven successful. Even after the implementation of harsh policies like family separation, the number of border apprehensions did not significantly decrease. This suggests that migrants have already accepted the risks associated with crossing borders, and deterrence measures do not effectively dissuade them.
European countries have also tried to deter migrants by making border crossing more dangerous and painful, but this has not stopped people from attempting the journey. The Central Mediterranean route, known as the deadliest migration route in the world, has seen thousands of deaths and countless human rights abuses. Enhanced border control measures and denying search-and-rescue operations have not stopped migrants from risking their lives.
It is clear that deterrence policies alone cannot effectively address the complex issue of migration. Instead of focusing on deterrence, policymakers should consider addressing the root causes of migration, such as war, economic instability, and political failures. Additionally, providing legal pathways to migration and improving conditions in home countries may be more effective in managing migration flows.
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