--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But last year there were 540,000 people…" description: "\"But last year there were 540,000 people, roughly, detained coming across the border illegally. Forty-five thousand of them came from countries other th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4e/john-cornyn-11060_around-the-world_but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people_942762.jpg" --- # But last year there were 540,000 people, roughly, detained… ![“But last year there were 540,000 people, roughly, detained coming across the border illegally. Forty-five thousand of them came from countries other than Mexico, demonstrating the fact that Mexico itself now is a pathway into the United States for people all around the world, and we don't know…” quote by John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4e/john-cornyn-11060_around-the-world_but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people_942762.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4e/john-cornyn-11060_around-the-world_but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people_942762.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4e/john-cornyn-11060_around-the-world_but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people_942762.jpg) > “But last year there were 540,000 people, roughly, detained coming across the border illegally. Forty-five thousand of them came from countries other than Mexico, demonstrating the fact that Mexico itself now is a pathway into the United States for people all around the world, and we don't know what their intentions are” [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights that illegal border crossings involve many non‑Mexican nationals, making Mexico a transit hub for diverse migrants whose motives are unclear. **In simple terms:** Mexico is a gateway for migrants from many countries, and their intentions are unknown. Key Takeaway Recognize the complexity of migration patterns. Themes migration policy border security diversity intentions Mood concerned analytical Type political informative When to use this quote - immigration reform debates - border patrol training - policy analysis - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts transit routes national security humanitarian concerns Questions to Reflect On - What factors drive non‑Mexican migrants to use Mexico as a route? - How can policy address varied migrant intentions? A Different Perspective The data may be outdated or politically framed, limiting its current relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Border Illegally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border-illegally-1488211/) [Coming Border](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-border-592665/) [Demonstrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonstrating/) [Detained Coming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detained-coming-1622710/) [Illegally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegally-231621/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Last year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-year/) [Mexico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mexico/) [Mexico Pathway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mexico-pathway-1622709/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Journalists casually use terms like crossing the border illegally when referring to asylum seekers - when in fact there is no law that says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/journalists-casually-use-terms-like-crossing-the-border-illegally/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [There is a significant moral difference between a person who commits a violent crime and a person who tries to cross a border illegally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/there-is-a-significant-moral-difference-between-a-person-who-commits/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I see so many mothers with young children because they are getting a mixed signal that when you come across the border illegally, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/i-see-so-many-mothers-with-young-children-because-they-are-getting-a/) [Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/) > [Rancher Bundy should've told the feds that those were Mexican cows - who came across the border illegally to seek better grazing opportunities. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-starnes/rancher-bundy-should-ve-told-the-feds-that-those-were-mexican-cows/) [Todd Starnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-starnes/) > [Drones don't stop people from coming across the border, they merely tell you that someone is coming across the border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/drones-don-t-stop-people-from-coming-across-the-border-they-merely/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [We must be clear: Donald Trump is lying when he conflates immigrants coming across the border with MS-13 gangs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/we-must-be-clear-donald-trump-is-lying-when-he-conflates-immigrants/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [We pay a subsidy. Money coming over the border, they're - there are so many ways that Mexico makes money with us, Bob. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-pay-a-subsidy-money-coming-over-the-border-they-re-there-are-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In my experience, given how large the border is and given how many people are coming across the border, I mean, look, if a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/in-my-experience-given-how-large-the-border-is-and-given-how-many/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [The evidence is now clear that the majority of people coming across the border are not from Mexico. They're coming from Guatemala, El Salvador,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-evidence-is-now-clear-that-the-majority-of-people-coming-across/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I don't think the criticism is fair. I think the criticism is assuming that Donald Trump giving up on something. He's not. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-mulvaney/i-don-t-think-the-criticism-is-fair-i-think-the-criticism-is-assuming/) [Mick Mulvaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-mulvaney/) > [I said these trade deals are going to be terrible: we're going to lose manufacturing jobs, factories abroad; the real wages of Americans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-said-these-trade-deals-are-going-to-be-terrible-we-re-going-to-lose/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [In 2019 folks were coming across the border and were sitting down, they were sitting down waiting for Border Patrol to come up because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-wolf/in-2019-folks-were-coming-across-the-border-and-were-sitting-down/) [Chad Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-wolf/) > [The numbers of terrorists that we have caught coming - we actually don't catch them coming across the border. We usually catch them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/the-numbers-of-terrorists-that-we-have-caught-coming-we-actually-don/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [The people who illegally cross into the country are from countries that have very close ties to al Qaeda, whether it's Yemen or Afghanistan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/the-people-who-illegally-cross-into-the-country-are-from-countries/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [We know in New York we have several million at any one time who are in New York illegally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-know-in-new-york-we-have-several-million-at-any-one-time-who-are/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by John Cornyn > [There is no doubt where the founding fathers stood on this issue. They believed that people of faith should be permitted to express themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/there-is-no-doubt-where-the-founding-fathers-stood-on-this-issue-they/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [I am pleased to report that Texas is known for having one of the strongest set of open government laws in our Nation. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/i-am-pleased-to-report-that-texas-is-known-for-having-one-of-the/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [You can always find a reason to say no. It's the easiest vote. It's also not exactly a red badge of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/you-can-always-find-a-reason-to-say-no-it-s-the-easiest-vote-it-s/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [The enemy is not just terrorism. It is the threat posed specifically by Islamist terrorism, by Bin Ladin and others who draw on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/the-enemy-is-not-just-terrorism-it-is-the-threat-posed-specifically/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [But I think the - what the tea party movement demonstrates, and I think the, the, the enthusiasm that we're seeing from independents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-i-think-the-what-the-tea-party-movement-demonstrates-and-i-think/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [If there is a nuclear tactic being used here, I submit it is the use of that obstruction where a willful minority blocks a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/if-there-is-a-nuclear-tactic-being-used-here-i-submit-it-is-the-use/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Think for a moment about what Obamacare has done: The federal government has come up with its own (ever-evolving) definition of 'health insurance,' which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/think-for-a-moment-about-what-obamacare-has-done-the-federal/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [The Supreme Court has never ruled that Congress can use the Commerce Clause to require individuals to engage in an activity they have chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/the-supreme-court-has-never-ruled-that-congress-can-use-the-commerce/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Depictions or expressions of sex, violence, crime are all permitted virtually without limit; but religion, it seems, never.No wonder many in America seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/depictions-or-expressions-of-sex-violence-crime-are-all-permitted/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [But I do think its unwise, and it - to build a mosque at the site where 3,000 Americans lost their lives as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-i-do-think-its-unwise-and-it-to-build-a-mosque-at-the-site-where/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Sometimes, it might be called conservative; sometimes it might be called liberal. But the point is that the meaning of the Constitution and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/sometimes-it-might-be-called-conservative-sometimes-it-might-be/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Raising taxes is the last thing we should do amid the weakest economic recovery since World War II. Unfortunately, even if we avoid the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/raising-taxes-is-the-last-thing-we-should-do-amid-the-weakest/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [And if you like 14.4 percent unemployment, if you like the fact that 70 percent of home mortgages in Nevada are underwater, then stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/and-if-you-like-14-4-percent-unemployment-if-you-like-the-fact-that/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Our military service members put their lives on the line to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans - yet many still face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/our-military-service-members-put-their-lives-on-the-line-to-protect/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [By the Obama administration's reasoning, it would be constitutionally permissible to make Americans purchase nearly any product (broccoli, gym membership) that improved their health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/by-the-obama-administration-s-reasoning-it-would-be-constitutionally/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) [Explore all 62 John Cornyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) ## More Around the world quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-romney-s-junior-week-abroad-in/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-believe-there-definitely-are-good-things-about-social-networking-it/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [Trump is reviled around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/trump-is-reviled-around-the-world/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) [Browse all 3,349 Around the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But last year there were 540,000 people, roughly, detained coming across the border illegally. Forty-five thousand of them came from countries other than Mexico, demonstrating the fact that Mexico itself now is a pathway into the United States for people all around the world, and we don't know what their intentions are", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cornyn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people-roughly-detained-coming/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Around the world" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people-roughly-detained-coming/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4e/john-cornyn-11060_around-the-world_but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people_942762.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4e/john-cornyn-11060_around-the-world_but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people_942762.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4e/john-cornyn-11060_around-the-world_but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people_942762.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But last year there were 540,000 people, roughly, detained coming across the border illegally. Forty-five…” — John Cornyn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Cornyn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But last year there were 540,000...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people-roughly-detained-coming/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-last-year-there-were-540-000-people-roughly-detained-coming/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```