his May 29, 2019 photo released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows some of 1,036 migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, the largest that the Border Patrol says it has ever encountered. Video shows them going under a chain-link fence to the U.S., where they waited for agents to come. The Border Patrol has encountered 180 groups of more than 100 people since October, compared to 13 during the previous 12-month period and two the year before. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection via AP and WaTimes)
African migrants discover U.S. immigration loopholes
By Stephen Dinan– The Washington Times – Friday, May 31, 2019
Border authorities nabbed a group of 116 illegal immigrants from Africa this week, saying it’s the first time they’ve found Africans taking advantage of the large-group tactic Central American migrants have learned to abuse.
The Africans were caught Thursday night near the border crossing in Del Rio, Texas — though instead of presenting themselves at the port of entry, they jumped the border, an official told reporters.
Like Central American groups, this one was comprised of children and families, and appeared to be attempting to exploit the same loopholes the Central Americans discovered they could use to gain an illegal foothold in the U.S. and escape deportation.
“Bring a child, get released,” said a Customs and Border Protection official.
CBP said the group included people from Angola, Cameroon and Congo. Other African migrants have previously benefitted from the family loophole, but never in such a single large group.
The expansion of the large-group tactic beyond migrants from the western hemisphere is a worrying sign for a border already overstretched.
The official said it was too early to say what routes the African migrants took.
He did say that the migrants were given initial medical screenings and all of them appeared to be healthy.The Africans marked the 182nd large group to be encountered since Oct. 1. The others have generally been comprised of Central Americans… more from the Washington Times here.
