Audio

Lake and Hobbs' plans for border security and immigration vary widely.

Nick Miroff on a surge in border crossings that is expected to go up. Peggy McGlone on a philanthropic family’s ties to the opioid crisis. And the president is on the phone ... just to talk.

Border people often inhabit this in-between space created by the separation and collision of two cultures. From KPBS and PRX, "Port of Entry" tells personal stories from this place — stories of love, hope, struggle and survival from border crossers, fronterizxs and other people whose lives are shaped by the wall. These are cross-border stories that connect us, brought to you by hosts Alan Lilienthal and Natalie Gonzales, producer Julio Ortiz, sound designer Luca Vega.

President Trump says the situation is a national emergency. Is he right?

In February, President Trump declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border. Last year, he ordered thousands of National Guard troops to the border. Is this the first time an American president has responded with this level of force? In this week's episode, the history of militarization at the U.S.-Mexico border.

President Trump vowed to crack down on undocumented immigration and empower the Border Patrol. Three years later, the agency is the target of outrage, protest and investigation into its mission and conduct, and many of the agents who have supported Mr. Trump say that morale is low. We spoke with one of them. Guest: Art Del Cueto, a Border Patrol agent in Arizona and vice president of the National Border Patrol Council. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Background reading: Overwhelmed by desperate migrants and criticized for mistreating those in their care, many agents, whose work has long been viewed as a ticket to the middle class, have grown frustrated and bitter.

The Customs and Border Protection agency says it is doing its best to reduce impact to the environment and tribal citizens. Conservationists and Native Tribes in the area are not appeased.