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Just about every day, migrants walk across the Gateway to the Americas pedestrian bridge from Mexico to Laredo, Texas, to approach U.S. customs officers, saying they are afraid to return to their home countries. That act starts the legal process for them to apply for asylum. In October 2017, a couple from India had their first encounter with a customs officer at the bridge. In the last three months of 2017, about 4,000 people each month came to border stations in Laredo asking for protection.

Immigration

Kirsten Luce for The Marshall Project
Closing Argument
The True, Massive Cost of Trump’s Mass Deportation Plans
Along with immense human suffering, deporting millions of people could cost billions and damage the economy, according to several recent analyses.
Former President Donald Trump, a White man in a red tie and navy suit, claps his hands as he walks off a stage during a rally inside an arena. He walks down a red rug between U.S. flags. In the background, there are signs that read "VOTE EARLY!" and hundreds of supporters sitting the stands.
A combination of 15 screenshots of former President Donald Trump speaking at various events, wearing a suit and tie, and twice wearing a red Make America Great Again hat. In the top left and bottom right corners there is a set of quotation marks in red. The combination of screenshots is on a black solid background.
Election 2024 October 24
Trump Often Repeats These False, Misleading Immigration Claims. Here Are the Facts.
The more someone hears something, the more likely they are to believe it, even when it’s false. Trump has made some of these claims 500 times or more.
By , and
Election 2024 October 21
Fact-checking Over 12,000 of Donald Trump’s Statements About Immigration
‘I could get elected twice over the wall,’ said former President Trump. It could end up being one of the few true things he’s said about immigration.
By The Marshall Project
Dozens of sheriffs in uniform, some wearing cowboy hats, some wearing suits, stand on the steps of an angled staircase outside of The White House.
Analysis October 16
Why Sheriffs’ Elections Matter
From immigration enforcement to abortion access, sheriffs wield a surprising amount of power in their jurisdictions.
By
Silhouettes of about 11 people stand in a line outside. An overpass bridge and parked cars can be seen in the background.
Closing Argument August 24
How a Drop in Border Crossings May Change the Presidential Campaign
The Democratic National Convention sought to address one of the party’s biggest weaknesses with voters.
By
Tim Walz, a White man with white hair and glasses, wearing a navy suit jacket and khaki pants, walks outside with two men behind him to his left.
Election 2024 August 7
Tim Walz on Criminal Justice: 5 Things to Know
Where Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, stands on policing, guns, prison reform and other issues.
By and
A man in an orange uniform looks out of a small window in his solitary confinement cell, which contains a narrow bed, a sink and attached toilet, and a small desk and chair.
Closing Argument April 20
The Enduring Use of Solitary, and New Proposed Limits That Will Likely Fail (Again)
Isolation’s damaging effects are widely known. But many facilities confine people — even youth — virtually all day, sometimes in shower stalls.
By
Texas Tactical Border Force guardsmen dressed in uniforms sit on a bus at the airport in El Paso, Texas.
Closing Argument March 30
This Ain’t Just Texas: More States Want Power to Wage ‘War’ on Migrants
Several states are sending troops to the Southern border, even as the legal battle over immigration enforcement rages on.
By
A group of migrants exit from a bus parked in the middle of a street. The U.S. Capitol can be seen in the background.
Closing Argument February 17
What Crime Data Says About the Effects of Texas Busing Migrants
The influx has sparked fears of rising crime in some cities. The Marshall Project looked at policing data to see if the anxiety reflects reality.
By , and
Three men in National Guard uniforms place razor wire alongside a river.
Closing Argument January 20
Texas vs. the USA: Inside the Immigration Showdown
The Southern border is now an open battle between Gov. Greg Abbott and the Biden Administration.
By
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