Trump and Haley caution about risks at New Hampshire’s northern border
Republican Primary Voters in New Hampshire Concerned About Northern Border Security
As Republican primary voters in New Hampshire headed to vote Tuesday, GOP presidential candidates and politicians worked to keep the border on their minds — only it was not the southern boundary.
In the days leading up to the first-in-the-nation primary state, border talk was focused on threats posed to the United States by way of the Canadian border, not just the Mexican one.
“The southern border is like nobody has ever seen, but the northern border is bad too,” said former President Donald Trump as he walked into a polling station in Londonderry on Tuesday. “I don’t think any country, a third-world country, never had a border like this.”
Trump’s only other major challenger in the Tuesday primary, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, ratcheted up her messaging on the northern border several days ago.
Haley told attendees at a campaign event in Hollis last week that walling off the entire 2,000-mile southern border with Mexico was not enough and that the same physical barriers were needed across the 4,000-mile U.S.-Canada border, which does not include Alaska’s border with Canada.
“I don’t just want a border wall — we’ve got to do a whole lot more than that. That’s what will close off the northern and the southern borders,” said Haley.
Last weekend, Haley told reporters the United States would “do whatever it takes to keep people out.”
“We will do a wall,” Haley said. “We will do any sort of Border Patrol that we need to have on there. Whatever it takes to keep people out that are illegal from coming in, we will do it.”
Before dropping out of the GOP race late last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) told voters that he would spend more money on bolstering border security at the northern boundary.
Republicans’ growing concerns about the northern border come as more than 8 million people have been encountered by federal law enforcement at the southern border in the three years since President Joe Biden took office, more than any other period in history.
In fiscal 2023, which ended last September, Border Patrol agents arrested 2.05 million people who walked across the southern border compared to 10,021 at the northern border.
The 10,021 figure was 11 times higher than fewer than 916 in 2021 and the highest number on record since 2002, when 10,487 immigrants were arrested up north, according to publicly available federal data.
In just the last two months (Oct. & Nov.), Swanton Sector Border Patrol Agents have apprehended 1,850 subjects from 43 different countries, surpassing the number of apprehensions in Fiscal Years (FY) 2021 & 2022 combined.
Early exiting on polling Tuesday showed immigration was a top concern for New Hampshire GOP primary voters.
Haley contended during a CNN town hall event last Thursday that terrorists were being arrested at the northern border more than at the southern border.
Federal data confirmed her point in certain contexts. Across the southern border in 2023, 169 immigrants who were caught while trying to enter by walking around the ports of entry were determined to be on the FBI terrorist watch list versus three similar incidents across the northern border.
However, the situation was reversed at the ports of entry, which include seaports, land ports of entry, and airports. Across northern border ports, customs officers caught 484 terrorist watch-listed individuals compared to 80 down south.
Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) has been the most vocal state leader in New England on border security. Last October, Sununu initiated a major increase in the number of state law enforcement patrols sent to work within 25 miles of the Canadian border.
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“The vast majority of border crossings come from the southern border, but the majority of border crossings of folks on the terrorist watch list come from the northern border,” Sununu told the New York Times this week.
A RealClearPolitics polling average from surveys taken between Dec. 14, 2023, and Jan. 18 showed voters were overwhelmingly upset with Biden’s approach to securing either border. The public disapproved of Biden’s handling of immigration issues by a rate of 2 to 1, or 63% to 32%.
What are the main concerns driving the focus on the northern border?
Deral data.
The focus on the northern border is driven by concerns over illegal border crossings, drug trafficking, and potential threats to national security. While the southern border has long been a primary concern for Republicans, the recent surge in illegal immigration and apprehensions at the southern border has raised alarm bells about the vulnerability of the northern border as well.
While the number of apprehensions at the northern border is significantly lower compared to the southern border, Republicans argue that any illegal crossings are unacceptable and pose a risk to national security. They believe that a strong border security strategy should encompass both borders to effectively prevent illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and potential terrorist threats.
Former President Donald Trump, a vocal advocate for border security, expressed his concerns about the northern border during his visit to a polling station in Londonderry. Trump emphasized the unprecedented nature of the southern border crisis but highlighted that the northern border is also problematic and requires attention and robust security measures.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley also addressed the issue, advocating for physical barriers and enhanced border patrol on the U.S.-Canada border. Haley stressed that a border wall alone is insufficient and that comprehensive measures are necessary to secure both the northern and southern borders.
These sentiments were echoed by former GOP candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis, who pledged to allocate more resources to strengthen border security at the northern boundary. DeSantis emphasized the need for increased funding and manpower to effectively monitor and secure the U.S.-Canada border.
The concerns over the northern border are fueled by the alarming statistics from the southern border. Since President Joe Biden assumed office, over 8 million people have been encountered by federal law enforcement at the southern border, surpassing any other period in history. The number of Border Patrol arrests at the southern border greatly exceeds those at the northern border, further emphasizing the need to address security vulnerabilities on both fronts.
It is important to note that the figures at the northern border have seen a significant increase in recent years. The 10,021 arrests in fiscal 2023 represent an 11-fold increase compared to fewer than 916 arrests in 2021. This is the highest number of arrests at the northern border since 2002. While the numbers may be relatively small compared to the southern border, they indicate a concerning trend and highlight the need for proactive measures to prevent illegal crossings and mitigate potential threats.
The concerns raised by Republican primary voters in New Hampshire reflect a broader sentiment within the GOP regarding border security. Republicans are pushing for a comprehensive approach that addresses security challenges on both the southern and northern borders. They argue that a strong and secure border is crucial to safeguarding national security, upholding the rule of law, and protecting American citizens from illegal activities and potential threats.
The focus on the northern border during the New Hampshire primary highlights the importance of border security as a key issue for Republican voters. It serves as a reminder that border security is not limited to the southern border and should encompass comprehensive measures to safeguard the entire border of the United States.
As the GOP primary season unfolds, it is expected that border security will remain a prominent topic of discussion among Republican candidates. The concerns raised by voters in New Hampshire underscore the need for a robust and effective border security strategy that addresses vulnerabilities on both the southern and northern borders.
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