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“Crossing Lines: Why America's Immigration Debate Is About More Than a Border"
By Venita Benitez, with collaboration from Microsoft Copilot
Let’s cut through the noise. America is in the thick of a storm over immigration, and everyone’s got an opinion—but not everyone has the facts. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How the heck did we get here?”
You’re not alone. Here’s a real, no-fluff breakdown of what’s happening, why it’s still happening, and what the law actually says.
❗ Yes, Illegal Entry Is a Crime
Let’s start with the obvious: crossing the U.S. border without authorization is a federal crime. First-time? It’s a misdemeanor. If someone is caught and returns again? That’s a felony. That’s not opinion—it’s statute, straight from 8 U.S. Code §1325 and §1326.
No matter where you stand politically, it’s illegal. But that’s not where the debate ends… it’s where it begins.
🧑⚖️ Civil vs. Criminal—What’s the Real Difference?
Just because something’s illegal doesn’t mean it’s always criminally prosecuted.
Immigration law in the U.S. is a weird hybrid:
- Overstaying a visa = civil violation.
- Crossing the border unlawfully = criminal offense, but not everyone is prosecuted in criminal court.
Why? Because the system is buried in backlog, and the federal government doesn’t have the resources to prosecute every single case. So, a lot of immigration violations get handled like traffic tickets—processed through civil immigration courts, not criminal ones.
🔗 The 13th Amendment Exception—Slavery by Another Name?
Here’s where it gets real. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery—except as punishment for a crime.
The exact words: > “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.”
So, what happens when someone crosses the border illegally and is criminally convicted? That exception clause kicks in. And under current law, low-cost or forced labor in detention centers becomes legal. That’s not just theory—it’s happening.
Migrants clean, cook, and maintain facilities for pennies per hour. Some call it “detention.” Others call it modern-day slavery.
