The following article by Michelle Ye Hee Lee was posted on the Washington Post website August 1, 2017:
“As you know, the border was a tremendous problem and now close to 80 percent stoppage.”
— President Trump, remarks at a Cabinet meeting, July 31, 2017
“You know, the border’s down 78 percent. Under past administrations, the border didn’t go down, it went up. But if it went down 1 percent, there was like this was a great thing. Down 78 percent.”
— Trump, speech in New York, July 28, 2017
Curbing illegal immigration is a major promise by President Trump, and he frequently touts successes in doing so. While Southwest border crossings have, indeed, declined as a result of Trump’s rhetoric, it’s not nearly as dramatic as 78 or 80 percent. Moreover, Trump now says illegal immigration went up under previous administrations — which is false.
Let’s dig in. Continue reading “President Trump’s claim that illegal immigration went up under past administrations”