Fewer illegal border crossing attempts but more cases prosecuted

SAN DIEGO: Federal prosecutors in southern California are handling a higher number of illegal border crossing cases even as attempted crossings into the country have fallen “sharply”.

United States attorney for the southern district of California Adam Gordon said the sharp drop in crossings — from 324,256 in 2024 to 49,900 last year, according to San Diego Customs and Border Protection (CBP) figures — had allowed authorities to prosecute a larger percentage of cases brought by border enforcement agencies.

He said about 75 per cent of the cases handled by his office came from the CBP, particularly involving individuals attempting to enter the country through the Pacific Ocean or areas outside official ports of entry.

“Because there are fewer individuals attempting to cross, we can prosecute a higher percentage of them.”

Gordon said prosecution was a key part of the US border enforcement strategy as it created a deterrent effect.

He said physical border security alone was not enough if those attempting to enter the country illegally did not believe they would face consequences.

“It creates a deterrent effect and that deterrent effect is the most important part because incentives ultimately drive the process of individuals wanting to enter the US.

“Part of that is securing the border physically. But prosecution is an important component because if people do not feel they are going to be prosecuted, there will be continued attempts to enter the country without permission.”

Gordon said consequences were necessary for deterrence to work.

He, however, said not all cases were handled through federal prosecution.

He said minors were generally processed differently, with most cases involving those under 18 handled administratively by immigration authorities rather than through his office.

“If you have individuals who are not subject to actual federal prosecution, and most minors are not subject to federal prosecution, those cases are handled administratively.

“That means they are handled by immigration judges or by border patrol removing or deporting somebody, away from what our office actually does,” he said.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times