AP FACT CHECK: Visa overstays outpace border crossings
Source: Associated Press
AP FACT CHECK: Visa overstays outpace border crossings
By AMANDA SEITZ and WILL WEISSERT
January 3, 2019
Former Rep. Beto ORourke, a prospective Democratic presidential contender, made waves with a video ad attacking President Donald Trumps proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall. His claims in the social media ad, seen more than 5 million times since it came out a week ago, are mostly accurate.
A look at some of the Texans statements in the ad:
OROURKE AD: Since 2007, the undocumented immigrant population has grown more through visa overstays than unauthorized border crossings.
THE FACTS: This claim is correct. It does not, however, address the argument of the walls proponents that the wall would be effective in slowing the illegal entry of hundreds of thousands of people from the south.
While the U.S. is struggling to deal with an uptick of families and children seeking asylum from Central America, the number of border crossings has actually declined in recent years. Meanwhile, the number of foreigners who did not leave the country when they were supposed to commonly called visa overstays has stayed consistent. Temporary visas are issued to foreigners who want to work, study, travel or seek medical treatment in the country.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/48d0ad46f143478d9384410f5ae3d38b