Unlawful Crossings Along the Southern Border Surge, Straining Resources and Communities
Unlawful Crossings Along the Southern Border Surge, Straining Resources and Communities
Unlawful crossings along the Southern border have recently skyrocketed, reaching levels not witnessed for several months. This surge in activity is putting a strain on government resources and burdening local communities that are now responsible for supporting large numbers of migrants released from federal custody.
According to Brandon Judd, the head of the union representing Border Patrol agents, over 8,000 arrests were made on Monday alone. This figure is the highest recorded since the surge seen in early May, which saw daily numbers nearing 10,000. The current numbers also far exceed those recorded in mid-April, when there were approximately 4,900 illegal crossings per day.
This increase in unlawful crossings is having far-reaching effects across the country. Both border communities and those located much farther away are struggling to provide assistance to the migrants released from federal custody. Ruben Garcia, overseeing a network of shelters in El Paso, notes the significant increase in the number of people crossing the border.
The recent influx of unlawful crossings poses challenges for President Biden and his administration, who have been working to prevent the Southern border from becoming a focal point for Republican narratives about immigration policy, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Since President Biden took office, illegal crossings have reached notable highs, surpassing pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019 under the Trump administration. However, the numbers declined sharply for a period of six weeks in May and June after the end of a public health measure known as Title 42, which swiftly expelled migrants who had entered the country illegally, even if they were seeking asylum.
Officials anticipated a surge in illegal crossings following the termination of Title 42, but the increase actually began a few days before the rule ended, with around 9,500 crossings per day recorded in the week leading up to its expiration.
However, this relative calm did not last. Theresa Cardinal Brown, a senior advisor for immigration and border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, explains that she never believed the decline in unlawful crossings would persist. She cites the tens of thousands of people already in northern Mexico and the many more following them through the Darién Gap as contributing factors.
In 2020, a record number of nearly 250,000 individuals crossed the Darién Gap in an attempt to reach the United States. This year, despite efforts by the United States to reduce flow, that number has risen to 360,000 as of September 10th, according to Panamanian authorities.
The administration attributes the decline in unlawful crossings in May and June to new enforcement measures and legal pathways for entering the United States. Officials also point to several factors, including misinformation spread by Mexican cartels involved in drug trafficking and human smuggling. Shelter workers, advocates, and migrants themselves mention growing impatience among individuals waiting for legal pathways and their willingness to take risks.
While Customs and Border Protection (C.B.P.) has not confirmed the recent numbers, a spokeswoman for the agency states that fluctuations are expected. C.B.P. is actively working to address the situation along the Southwest border by decompressing congested areas. Individuals taken into custody will go through immigration enforcement proceedings, and those without a legal basis to stay will be removed.
Starting in July, many people, including families, who were waiting for appointments at ports of entry or through a humanitarian parole program began making the decision to cross the border illegally, according to those working in asylum and migrant shelters. Even as federal officials emphasize consequences for illegal crossings, migrants granted temporary permission to stay in the country often share successful stories with family and friends back home, fostering encouragement for other migrants to embark on the dangerous journey to the United States.
This surge in unlawful crossings has overwhelmed many border facilities where migrants are held for processing by the Border Patrol. Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, housing many single adults, are running out of space. When shelters are unable to accommodate migrants, authorities resort to releasing them into communities. Southern Arizona has experienced this firsthand, with mayors and local officials reporting instances of border officials releasing dozens of migrants in small towns without transportation.
Casa Alitas, which operates five shelters in the Tucson area, has seen a significant increase, accommodating 1,500 people per night compared to their previous capacity of 800 just two weeks ago. In San Diego, border officials have been dropping hundreds of migrants per day at transit hubs due to local shelters reaching maximum capacity. While volunteers have been providing basic necessities like food, water, and assistance with onward travel, shelter space is scarce.
Pedro Rios, director of the U.S.-Mexico border program for the American Friends Service Committee, expresses concern that the situation is not sustainable for the community organizations striving to meet the humanitarian needs of migrants in the border areas.
Customs personnel being redirected to assist Border Patrol agents with processing apprehended migrants has resulted in the closure of the cargo bridge between Mexico and the United States in El Paso. Official data obtained by The Times shows an increasing trend in encounters between agents and migrants in the El Paso sector over the past few months.
Most migrants turn themselves in to Border Patrol agents after crossing into U.S. territory, with plans to apply for asylum rather than attempting to evade detection. Journalists in Phoenix, El Paso, and Bogota have contributed to this report.
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