WASHINGTON, D. C. — President Trump is right; illegal immigration at the Mexican border is now a crisis according Customs and Border Protection Chief Kevin McAleenan.
The system "is well beyond capacity, and remains at the breaking point," U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said a press conference Tuesday.
The new figures reflect the difficulties President Donald Trump has faced as he tries to cut down on illegal immigration, his signature issue. But it could also help him make the case that there truly is a national emergency at the border; however, one built around humanitarian crises and not necessarily border security. The Senate is expected to vote next week and join the House in rejecting his national emergency declaration aimed at building border walls, but Trump would almost certainly veto the measure and the issue is likely to be settled in the courts.
After the deaths of two migrant children in Border Patrol custody, Customs and Border Protection stepped up medical screenings. They also announced sweeping changes including more rigorous interviews as migrants come into the system.
And McAleenan said a new processing center would be built in El Paso, Texas, that will be better suited to manage families and children and handle medical care concerns, but it's not a permanent solution.
"While our enhanced medical efforts will assist in managing the increased flows, the fact is that these solutions are temporary and this solution is not sustainable," he said.
More than 76,000 migrants crossed the U.S.-Mexico border last month, more than double the number from the same period last year. Most were families coming in ever-increasingly large groups — there were 70 groups of more than 100 people in the past few months, and they cross illegally in extremely rural locations with few agents and staff. There were only 13 large groups during the previous budget year, and only two the year before.
This is a developing story.
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Hmmmm. If memory serves me correct, Beetle Bailey Beto recently stated that Trump actually created the crisis at our southern border. So, who to believe? A Customs Border Protection Chief (or Commissioner depending on which of Yantis' paragraphs you care to peruse) or Beetle Bailey Beto? Keeping in mind BBB is an open borders, socialist, tax and spend, liberal Democrat. I think I'll stick with the Border dude......
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PermalinkWhat an idiot. trump filled the cart without owning a horse to pull it. Now he expects to take from military spending to build a wall, that will have only a minimal effect in stopping illegal immigration, will not stop the insatiable appetite for illegal drugs Americans have, and do nothing to expedite the transfer of those already in custody. It's a monument to himself that will only be overshadowed by his impeachment. What a waste of money and a Presidency.
A picture of a barbed wire fence on the border would have made a better photo instead of the UAS. It would have been more dramatic.
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