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Culture War Roundup for the week of April 7, 2025

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Border crossing has a different risk profile than already being in the country illegally and just staying there. Crossing the border is often physically unsafe and arduous, and paying a coyote can cost most of the immigrant’s net worth, not to mention the significant travel just to get to Mexico to try it. And something like half of all deported immigrants are ones caught at the border and turned back. So if you are a poor potential immigrant it might really be better to stay in your home country and wait for a more opportune time to try. Whereas if you are already in the US illegally you already have most of the upside and fairly low risk of being deported even with aggressive enforcement policies going on.