Moral panic paradox

Intense hysteria about a social or political problem that, instead of solving or reducing the problem, actually makes it worse.

The intense xenophobia behind the Trump Administration's efforts to stop migrants from Central America from entering the U.S. have actually increased the number of asylum seekers many times over from during the Obama Administration. It's an example of a "moral panic paradox" -- people are afraid the asylum laws will change so they need to immigrate now before that happens. Another moral panic paradox happens when gun-control advocates seek limits on the sale of assault rifles after a mass shooting. The result is increased sales of assault rifles because people feel they need to buy them now before the laws change.