Texas efforts to secure the southern border pushed migrants to seek alternative routes to enter the U.S., and now many of them choose California as their entry point, pushing the state to handle three major issues at the same time: the influx of migrants, homelessness, and a huge budget deficit. California has seen a constant rise in migrants at the border in recent months as local leaders continue to seek state and federal government financial help to handle the migrant crisis.
A record number of migrants is expected this year
The state of California is likely to see a record number of migrants crossing the border this year. In February alone, there has been an 85 percent rise in migrant encounters compared to the same month last year. The same report indicates that Customs and Border Protection agents recorded over 230,000 encounters in 2023, which is the highest number on record, but experts are confident that this year California will set a new record. According to another recent report, more than 120,000 migrants have been released onto San Diego’s streets in the last six months, with only 24,000 migrants released from late February to the beginning of April.
U.S. Border Patrol agents serve as Uber for migrants
Earlier this month, San Diego County Commissioner Jim Desmond explained that the city’s efforts to handle the influx of migrants are not enough. He further noted that migrants usually choose entry points where they face the least resistance, and the least resistance is in California. In the last few months, Desmond has repeatedly voiced concerns about the impact of immigration on California’s southern areas, accusing Border Patrol agents of being migrants’ Uber and bringing and dropping them off in drop-off areas in the city.
Unprepared for the number of migrants
The US Border Patrol is currently dealing with a significant overflow of migrants in the San Diego sector along the southern border. The detention centers in this area are operating at 245% of their capacity, holding 1,812 migrants in spaces designed for just 750, as per the latest agency reports. This situation is exacerbated by the policy that limits the detention of migrants to 72 hours, leading to over 125,000 migrants being released into San Diego since September.
Migrants are thanking President Biden
Recently, the New York Post interviewed several migrants who had just disembarked from Border Patrol buses. These individuals originated from a variety of countries, spanning from China and India to Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, and Colombia.
Expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to enter the United States, one migrant from India voiced his thanks: “Thank you America, thank you American president,” after being allowed entry into the country.
Not everyone is properly checked
Many migrants who arrive in California leave the state within days, and some within hours. However, the influx is so large that Border Patrol agents struggle to thoroughly screen each person before they are released with a court date. Manny Bayon, the President of the National Border Patrol Council for the San Diego sector, has expressed concerns about the backgrounds of migrants, especially those from countries with which the US lacks cooperative relationships.
California is losing the battle
In contrast, with the measures from Operation Lone Star and the support by other Republican-led states, have led to a significant decrease in migrant encounters in key Texas sectors. Despite this, the number of migrants encountered at the California border, particularly in the San Diego sector, continues to increase. This sector sees thousands of migrants weekly, a number that other areas might only see monthly.
