Former President Donald J. Trump was famous for talking tough about illegal immigration. In fact, his reputation as an enforcer appears to have resonated south of the Rio Grande.
“Trump’s tough-on-the-border rhetoric makes its way down to Mexico and Central America, and it drives people’s decisions. They know it’s going to be a less welcoming environment on the border,” said Texan writer Henry Chappell.
Mr. Chappell was speaking on July 11 with Helen Andrews, a senior editor at The American Conservative. In June, the magazine published Mr. Chappell’s report from the crisis zone, “A Texas Border Tour.”
Ms. Andrews had asked Mr. Chappell about the steep rise in crossings after President Joe Biden entered the White House. What caused such a huge change when Mr. Biden took the reins from Mr. Trump?…