An in-depth assessment of the economic, political and social conditions of the 24 U.S. counties that border Mexico exposes the devastating impact that illegal immigration has had on those communities.
Failed federal immigration policies have crippled their justice system, allowed a record number of deadly diseases—tuberculosis and hepatitis among them--to infest their communities and made them number one nationally in serious crimes.
The crucial analysis was conducted by a nonpartisan coalition of elected officials from the 24 county governments located on the U.S.-Mexico border. The group (United States/Mexico Border Counties Coalition) is dedicated to addressing the huge challenges faced by U.S. municipalities located near the southern border.
Its latest report is the result of lengthy research conducted by scholars at two major universities, in the border states of California and Arizona. It reveals that the 24 counties studied spent well in excess of $1 billion in less than a decade to respond to the federal government’s failure to secure the nation’s borders and the figure includes more than $800 million annually to provide emergency health care to uninsured populations. The counties are located in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Statistics reveal that if the 24 border counties, labeled the border region, were the nation’s 51st state it would have nearly 7 million residents, rank number one nationally in serious crimes, have an unemployment rate double the national average and the country’s second-lowest rate of high school graduates.
The report features informative graphs and charts that compare the border region with other states by using federal funds reports and U.S. Census Bureau statistics. There is no disputing the fact that the border region is suffering greatly from the illegal immigration crisis and taking a toll on the U.S. citizens who live there.