A politically incorrect suggestion by former president Donald Trump coincides with a rise in border crossings.
In a recent article, Trump proposed employing alligators to discourage migrants from crossing the southern border of the United States.
Posting to Truth Social, Trump wrote, “New Border Security,” “Will work for food,” and “Problem fixed!!” alongside a photo of a group of snarling alligators on a riverbank.
According to a report by Fox News, border crossings have reached historically high levels and are rapidly approaching the record numbers observed in May. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet announced the August figures, estimated to be the highest of 2023 at 230,000, but they are expected to break the record in September.
The Border Patrol reported that over 2,200 people had crossed illegally the previous night in Eagle Pass, Texas, making it the largest mass illegal crossing the Patrol had ever seen.
Just hours before Trump posted his Truth Social message on Wednesday, Fox News said things were “very out of control” in Eagle Pass.
Fox News reported that “over the past hour and a half, there has been a massive influx of illegal border crossers.” It was almost the day when thousands of mostly Venezuelans had gathered under the Eagle Pass bridge. This starkly contrasted with the 15,000 or more Haitians collected under the Del Rio bridge on the same day in 2016.
During his administration, Trump could not make good on his signature promise to build a wall along the southern border.
According to the New York Times, Trump has proposed using alligators as a border security measure in the past.
A cost estimate was requested when Trump suggested he bolster the border wall with a water-filled trench, maybe housing snakes or alligators, according to an excerpt from the 2019 book Border Wars: Inside Trump’s Assault on Immigration.
He envisioned an electrified wall topped with sharp spikes that easily penetrate human skin.
A wall is a deterrent. If it is not practical, you add additional deterrence.
