Record Numbers at the Border Raise Concerns
In what seems to be an alarming trend, the number of migrant encounters at the United States-Mexico border continues to rise, reaching unprecedented levels. According to sources within the Customs and Border Protection agency, over 190,000 migrant encounters have been recorded in the month of December alone. To put that into perspective, it's like the entire population of Birmingham, Alabama, crossing over into the country in just 19 days.
One area that has seen a significant increase in illegal crossings is Eagle Pass, where a staggering 10,000 undocumented immigrants were apprehended since last Saturday. In the past 24 hours, an additional 4,000 individuals have attempted to enter the country illegally there. It's not just neighboring countries contributing to this influx; migrants from far-flung nations such as Lebanon, Oman, Guinea, China, Bangladesh, Albania, and Angola have been reported among the groups intercepted by Border Patrol.
Lawmakers, both at the state and federal levels, are expressing their deep concerns about this ongoing situation. Texas Congressman Tony Gonzalas did not hold back as he sounded the alarm, calling the situation 'completely unacceptable' and emphasizing the need for action to ensure the safety of the nation.
In response to the overwhelming number of migrants, Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office has begun transporting some of them to sanctuary cities. The first flight of 120 individuals departed El Paso and landed in Chicago last night. This move comes in the midst of a verbal spat between Governor Abbott and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who accused the governor of undermining the country with his migrant busing program. In a robust rebuttal, Governor Abbott's office clarified that they intend to expand these flights to any sanctuary city, asserting they are 'fair game.'
Meanwhile, in Lukeville, Arizona, new footage has emerged showing yet another mass illegal crossing through a breach in the border wall, expertly cut by human smugglers. Scores of adults from various countries were seen walking down a dirt road towards a center set up by Border Patrol. In a peculiar act, some of them pulled out their iPhones to capture selfies, which they promptly shared with friends and family around the world, announcing their arrival in the United States.
Two individuals from Afghanistan were among the group apprehended in Lukeville. These individuals, known as special interest aliens, will now undergo additional federal vetting to determine their eligibility to remain in the country.
As the numbers continue to surge, experts warn that December is on track to become the highest recorded month in US history for migrant encounters. Already surpassing the previous record set in September, which stood at 269,000 encounters, the current pace is projected to exceed 300,000 encounters by the end of the month.
The situation at the border has raised serious concerns and calls for immediate action. With no sign of a resolution in sight, it remains unclear how the rest of the month will unfold. The nation awaits answers and solutions to this unprecedented challenge at the border.
