WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Donald Trump insisted last year that America's southern border was in crisis, his warnings landed with a thud.

Making unverified claims about "unknown Middle Easterners" and prayer rugs found by ranchers, Trump drew eye rolls from Democrats and many others, who derided his tactics as little more than an election-year stunt .

Now, six months later, Trump's new cries of alarm are again being met with skepticism, though the situation at the border has indeed deteriorated. Lawmakers of both parties agree there is a genuine humanitarian emergency, with federal autho...