Grijalva rejects Trump immigration policy despite declining illegal crossings

In the United States, illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have fallen to the lowest annual level since the early 1970s, attributed to the Trump administration's strict immigration policies. In fiscal year 2025, preliminary data indicated that nearly 238,000 apprehensions were recorded by U.S. Border Patrol, a significant decrease from prior years. Adelita Grijalva, a new Democratic representative from Arizona, publicly expressed her disapproval of this policy during a broadcast on CNN. She highlighted the impact of reduced undocumented workers on essential agricultural sectors in her district, particularly in Yuma County, known for its agricultural production. Grijalva pointed out the urgent need for a pathway to legalization for workers, especially as the local food production system faces challenges due to labor shortages. She emphasized the increasing difficulties families are experiencing in affording basic groceries as prices rise without the necessary workforce to support agriculture. Alongside this, the immigration enforcement landscape in Arizona has shifted dramatically under Trump, leading to a controversial yet significant reduction in the cross-border influx of undocumented migrants. Grijalva argues that the current policy does not align with the needs of her constituents and has discouraged necessary labor from entering the state, thereby exacerbating issues such as food deserts and higher living costs. The stark contrast in apprehension rates today versus those under the Biden administration paints a complex picture of U.S. immigration policy and its real-world effects, particularly in states closest to the border, like Arizona, where local economies heavily rely on migrant labor.