U.S. Border Patrol had over 16,000 migrant encounters over the weekend, according to Chief Raul Ortiz. That includes a surge in El Paso, Texas, where the Border Patrol has averaged 2,460 daily immigrant encounters over the last three days according to the sector’s acting Chief Patrol Agent Peter Jaquez.
On Sunday night alone, more than a thousand immigrants walked across the shallow Rio Grande from Mexico into El Paso. Video from photojournalist Corrie Boudreaux showed how they lined up in darkness to turn themselves in at a Border Patrol mobile processing center.
Developing: More than 1,000 migrants have begun crossing from Juarez into El Paso, one of the largest mass crossings ever. Video from @CorrieBoudreaux 1/ pic.twitter.com/vKGIe2dqkF
— El Paso Matters (@elpasomatters) December 12, 2022
Before the massive line formed Sunday night, the Mexican federal police escorted buses of migrants to non-governmental organizations in Juarez who then made their way to the border. Massive crossings over recent days have pushed holding facilities in El Paso to their limit. As a result, the Border Patrol released nearly 800 migrants onto the city’s streets Saturday and Sunday.
El Paso has previously bussed migrants to other cities when there was enough demand. But the city is refusing to spend any of its own money addressing the crisis and wants an upfront payment from FEMA. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, told KFOX the city has $10 million in funds available from the American Rescue Plan that can be used to address the situation.
“That American Rescue Plan money can more than likely be used to prevent homelessness and to shelter people who are on the street regardless of status,” Rep. Escobar said in an interview with KFOX.
The Department of Homeland Security wants these migrants processed quickly before Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ scheduled visit to El Paso tomorrow. He is expected to review operations, and meet with the CBP workforce, local officials and organizations. To get as many processed as possible before his arrival, NewsNation reporter Ali Bradley said CBP is asking migrants to either return voluntarily, or be released with a notice to appear for a court hearing at a later date.
Straight Arrow News visited the exact site in October and toured the mobile processing center where the immigrants are turning themselves in. They will each be provided food, any necessary medical treatment, have their documents authenticated and receive both fingerprint and retinal scans. Then, they will either be deported, or begin their immigration or asylum process.
