In an alarming development, hundreds of migrants, some carrying children, were captured on video running across the border in El Paso. This comes after a month that saw over 200,000 migrants processed crossing illegally into the United States, indicating that the border crisis is far from subsiding.
A video, which has gone viral on social media and was captured by a reporter for Univision, shows migrants, many of them holding children, cheering as they make their way into the El Paso border area. In the footage, a person in uniform is seen standing by, smoking a cigarette, as the groups move towards the United States.
Despite these visuals, a spokesperson for Border Patrol has firmly denied that the border is open to illegal migration, stating, “Rumors circulating on social media that areas of the southwest border – specifically in the El Paso Sector – are open to illegal migration are patently false.” They further emphasized that the border is not open to illegal migration and expressed concerns that criminal organizations are spreading misinformation, endangering migrants’ lives for financial gain.
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Francisco Garduño Yañez, Commissioner of the National Institute of Migration, argued that American policies are partly responsible for incidents like this, saying, “As long as the United States continues to open the doors of its border and exceptionally allow passage to some groups, families, minors, vulnerable people, it is a call for more migrants to come.”
The number of apprehensions by Border Patrol agents last month reached an estimated 210,000, marking the third-highest monthly figure on record. September’s apprehension tally is the highest since December 2022, when 222,000 migrants were apprehended, the second-highest monthly figure on record. The fiscal year 2023, ending in September, witnessed two million illegal migrants intercepted crossing the border, the second-highest annual figure on record.
While the Biden administration has been allowing approximately 1,500 prospective asylum seekers to enter the country each day using a smartphone app, not all those apprehended are allowed to stay in the U.S. Some are given the option to voluntarily return to Mexico or undergo a fast-track deportation process if they do not claim asylum or fail screenings. However, due to a backlog of millions of unresolved cases, the court process for deportation can often take years.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that it expects to see fluctuations in migration patterns and is working to strengthen consequences for those entering the country illegally.
The recent surge of illegal crossings at the border underscores the challenges the Biden administration faces in addressing unauthorized migration. While certain policies have reduced unauthorized entries among specific groups, such as Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans, other Central Americans and migrants from different continents, including Africa and Asia, continue to arrive in large numbers. In mid-September, approximately 2,000 daily Border Patrol apprehensions were from Venezuela.
Eagle Pass, Texas, has been particularly affected by the crisis, with border crossings reaching around 8,000 per day in the week ending September 22. These challenges have taken a toll on President Biden’s approval ratings, with immigration being a major concern for the American people.
The situation at the border remains complex and challenging, emphasizing the need for comprehensive immigration reform. The Biden administration faces a difficult task in managing this ongoing crisis and finding solutions that balance the interests of the nation’s security, humanitarian considerations, and the rule of law.
