Border Crossings Drop

The Border Patrol has reported a significant drop in arrest of those crossing the border without documentation. This it attributes to its tough enforcement, and so claims an indication that illegal entry is declining as a consequence. (See NY Times article.) The Pew Hispanic Center also released a report to similar effect, but attributes it more to the downturn in the economy and the industries that attract the undocumented. The Inter-America Development Bank which monitors the flow of monies between countries of the hemisphere reports that last year remittances to Mexico and other countries have dropped drastically. This is another indication of the decline in "unauthorized immigration."

. . . THE GROWTH OF DETENTION OF IMMIGRANTS IN EU DECRIED
The U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, has decried the detention of millions of immigrants and asylum seekers throughout the world, but focused especially on the growing practice in the European Union (EU). She argued that these people are not criminals and should not be treated as such. She also lamented the growing practice of detaining unaccompanied minors. (See Reuters article.)