Thousands of Migrants Awaiting Legal Entry on Mexican Side of US Border Amid Immigration Surge
According to a recent report, there are over 11,000 individuals waiting in shelters and camps on the Mexican side of the border, seeking legal entry into the United States. These migrants and asylum seekers are hoping to enter the US through pathways established by the Biden administration. In Tijuana, Mexico, around 3,800 migrants from various countries are staying in shelters. In Reynosa, Mexico, near McAllen, Texas, another 3,273 migrants await their fate at Senda De Vida shelters. Additionally, in Matamoros, Mexico, approximately 4,000 migrants are residing in camps, shelters, and abandoned homes.
Despite the desperation felt by these waiting migrants, some are putting their trust in mechanisms like the CBP One app, which automates appointment scheduling for asylum claims with border patrol. However, many migrants choose to take risks and attempt to cross the Rio Grande without waiting for a legal pathway. The chances of successfully crossing the border are slim, as the US Department of Homeland Security has deported or returned over 445,000 migrants since May.
The federal government has faced challenges in managing limited resources, resulting in closed ports of entry and reassigned personnel. While rail operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso were temporarily suspended, they have recently resumed. US Customs and Border Protection continues to grapple with the ongoing border surge, as illegal crossings persist, especially in rural areas of Arizona. Large groups of migrants also continue to arrive at the border by train, with approximately 1,000 migrants arriving in Piedras Negras, Mexico, across the border from Eagle Pass, on a recent Monday.
