Analysis & Opinions - The Washington Post

Trump’s ‘zero tolerance’ bluff on the border will hurt security, not help

| May 31, 2018

Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen recently announced a zero tolerance policy on border security. Though its contours have not been described in great detail, at its core, it is a commitment to criminally prosecute every person who illegally crosses the border.

This strategy may provide sound bites, and harsh rhetoric may generate some short-term deterrent effect, but it is impossible for this policy to actually be implemented over any reasonable time period. By announcing a threat that is effectively a bluff, the Trump administration likely will harm border security rather than enhance it.

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For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Bersin, Alan , Nate Bruggeman and Ben Rohrbaugh.“Trump’s ‘zero tolerance’ bluff on the border will hurt security, not help.” The Washington Post, May 31, 2018.

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