On November 25th, close to 500 migrants who spent weeks traveling through Mexico attempted to get past police blockades around the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The incident forced the border crossing into San Diego to temporarily shut down.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, 69 people were arrested on the U.S. side of the border for illegal entry into the country. Police in Tijuana arrested 39 people on the Mexican side of the border. Mexico's Interior Ministry said that those who were caught trying to rush the blockade will be deported back to their home countries.
After the incident, President Donald Trump tweeted that he would shut the border down "permanently if need be." The president also claimed that the immigrants were “stone cold criminals," though no evidence was ever given to support the claim.
Those who tried to cross the border were met with tear gas from authorities on the U.S. side. Many of the people attempting to cross were families with young children. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection claims that the migrants were throwing projectiles at their agents. In a tweet, the agency said, “Border Patrol agents deployed tear gas to dispel the group because of the risk to agents' safety.”
Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Homeland Security, had the following to say, “DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to shut down ports of entry for security and public safety reasons. We will also seek to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who destroys federal property, endangers our front-line operators, or violates our nation's sovereignty."
Coral Springs Immigration Attorneys
At Guerra Sáenz, PL, our team of lawyers are committed to helping immigrants overcome their legal obstacles. We understand how frustrating the immigration system can be, which is why we are here to stand by your side and guide you through the entire legal process. Let us use our skills and resources to assist with your immigration matter today.
Call (888) 936-3228 to schedule your appointment with an immigration lawyer in Coral Springs.