The Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) recently released statistics about its operations at the 17 New York land border entry points. According to the CBP, “21.3 million passengers, 8.2 million autos, 1.4 million trucks and 41,660 buses” entered the United States during the 2009 fiscal year. Of those 21.3 million passengers, 19,000 travelers were apprehended as “inadmissible travelers.” Additionally, 42 fraudulent documents were seized and 75 travelers were apprehended after making false claims of U.S. citizenship.
19,000 of 21.3 million is less than 1%. I think this can alleviate some of the worry that people may have about illegal immigrants being stopped at border crossings in any significant numbers. Also, only 42 fraudulent documents out of all those people! I find that one almost unbelievable..
These numbers prove that immigration, at least illegal immigration, is not the issue some wish to make it out as. If only less than 1% of the immigrants in question were up to no good, that puts their honesty rate at a higher number than any group I can think of off-hand.