"First, most of the crossers aren't "illegals" these days, but asylum or refugee status seekers, which we are required to take in under federal and international law." Except they are supposed to apply for asylum in the first 'safe state' (country) they enter. Still with so many now being flown to Canada to walk in via that largely unprotected border I think the US isn't going to be able to stop irregular migration anytime soon.