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US encounters 'unprecedented' number of immigrants at southern border

2021-08-13T09:54:06.034Z


During a press conference in Brownsville, Texas, Alejandro Mayorkas highlighted the sharp increase in immigrants arriving at the US-Mexico border.


Mayorkas: There is an “unprecedented” number of immigrants 3:21

(CNN) -

The Biden administration faces a "serious challenge" on the southern border of the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday, adding that the United States has encountered an "unprecedented" number. of immigrants illegally crossing the border.

During a press conference in Brownsville, Texas, Mayorkas highlighted the sharp increase in immigrants arriving at the US-Mexico border, many of whom are fleeing deteriorating conditions in their home countries.

Immigrant minors report refugee conditions 2:34

In July, US Customs and Border Protection detained 212,672 people, compared to June and amid some of the hottest summer weeks, when arrests generally decline.

Of those people, 95,788 people were expelled.

Twenty-seven percent had tried to cross the border before, Mayorkas said, acknowledging that a Trump-era policy that allows border authorities to turn away migrants has contributed to people trying to cross the border multiple times.

July represents the highest monthly number of migrants detained at the US-Mexico border in two decades.

Customs and Border Protection also arrested 18,962 unaccompanied children in July, surpassing the number of underage arrests in March, when overcrowded border facilities raised the alarm among officials.

While the administration has made strides to remove children from Customs and Border Protection custody, thousands remain in temporary facilities waiting to meet with sponsors, such as a parent or family member, in the United States.

Since October, the United States has encountered 845,307 unique individuals, compared to 796,400 during the same period in 2019, when there was a border crisis under the Trump administration.

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"We are facing a serious challenge on our southern border, and of course the challenge becomes sharper and more difficult due to the covid-19 pandemic. It has also become more difficult due to the fact that the previous administration dismantled our asylum system, "Mayorkas said.

The COVID-19 positivity rate among migrants is equal to or lower than rates in local border communities, he said.

Texas judge blocks immigration measure 0:47

The administration has taken a series of actions to suppress the flow of migrants to the southern border of the United States. In recent weeks, the Department of Homeland Security has increased resources and staff in the Rio Grande Valley, which has been overwhelmed by the number of arrivals, deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to assist the Border Patrol, reinforcing medical personnel, resuming a fast track of deportation for migrant families and launching flights to send people to other border sectors for processing.

Earlier this week, Mayorkas traveled to Mexico with a delegation from the United States to meet with officials.

He cited the trip during his remarks Thursday, highlighting the United States' coordination with Mexico on migration, including, for example, working with the country to increase interdictions.

This month, the Biden government began transporting migrants detained at the southern border into the interior of Mexico to try to prevent them from trying to cross the border again.

The practice has received criticism from immigrant advocates.

"The Biden administration must stop using Trump's cruel and illegal handbook," Eleanor Acer, senior director of refugee protection at Human Rights First, said in a statement.

"These expulsions are simply ridiculous from a public health perspective and only confirm that continued use of Title 42 has nothing to do with public health."

Biden meets with Hispanic congressmen and offers support 0:59

Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union, having reached an impasse in negotiations with the government, said it was returning to court to challenge the administration's continued use of a public health authority that allows the rapid expulsion of migrants.

The Biden administration has been caught between expressing compassion towards migrants and relying heavily on deterring those traveling to the southern U.S. border As a result, the border situation remains a political drag on the White House that is generating criticism from both the left and the right.

Alejandro Mayorkas Mexico-US Border

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2021-08-13

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