Unless they live in border states, most Americans seem oblivious to the ongoing immigration crisis in the country. While we’ve always had people crossing the border illegally, the Biden administration’s lax policies on immigration have permitted the daily dribble of migrant crossings to become a tsunami.

To put things in perspective, Newsweek reported last September that in just the first 20 months of his administration, President Joe Biden had allowed a million more illegals into the country than had entered the U.S. under former President Donald Trump’s “entire four-year term in office.”

In fiscal year 2021 (October 2020 through September 2021), more than 1.7 million people crossed the southern border illegally. In fiscal year 2022 (October 2021 through September 2022), more than 2.3 million people crossed the southern border illegally. The current fiscal year is already outpacing last year. Between October 2022 and March 1st of this year, more than 1 million illegals had already crossed the southern border. (Keep in mind that these included winter months; crossings increase in the spring and summer.)

And these numbers only tally what are called “encounters” — times that U.S. officials actually see or come into contact with migrants. The “got-aways” — those who cross illegally without ever encountering Border Patrol officials — are estimated to be nearly 2 million since Biden took office.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform, which has been studying these issues for decades, now calculates the cost of illegal immigration as being over $150 billion (SET ITAL) each year (END ITAL) — $35 billion more than just five years ago. It isn’t merely border states like California ($21.76 billion annually) or Texas ($8.88 billion annually) affected; the Biden administration is transporting migrants all over the country. Illinois spent $4.89 billion on illegal immigrants in 2022. New York City mayor Eric Adams stated earlier this week that the city “is being destroyed by the migrant crisis” and announced a plan to house migrants in suburban hotels, a decision that has prompted outcries and lawsuits.

The number of crimes committed by illegal immigrants has also exploded in the past few years. States with high numbers of illegals have, unsurprisingly, a much higher percentage of illegal immigrants in their prisons and jails. Why should American citizens be paying taxes to house and feed criminals from other countries?

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas has been asked, repeatedly — including by members of Congress — whether the border is “secure.” He continues to insist that it is. That’s the wrong question. If I prop a door open, and you ask me whether it’s “secure,” of course I can say “yes.”

Americans must also understand that 19 states and the District of Columbia issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Of those 19, all but two have “motor voter” laws that automatically register people to vote when they receive a driver’s license. All but one of those states permit people to vote without requiring photo identification. Eight conduct elections entirely by mail — which means no verification of voter identity. And even in some states where in-person voting takes place, election officials are not required to verify citizenship or other voting eligibility. Furthermore, almost half the states in the country (24) now permit “ballot harvesting,” meaning that someone other than the voter can collect and turn in his or her ballot.

On immigration as with other vital issues, the United States is being pushed over a cliff by those in control of government. Voters need to hold those responsible for this deliberate destruction accountable, by throwing them out of office and electing new political leadership committed to protecting the citizens of “this” country.

– Laura Hollis, Creators Syndicate