The escalating crisis at the United States' Southern border has seen a significant surge in the number of individuals arriving from regions beyond Central and South America.
As per the arrest records from the US Customs and Border Patrol (CPB), the influx of illegal immigrants from China, India, and other global nations reached 214,000 in the fiscal year 2023. This figure marks a threefold increase from 70,000 in 2022 and a substantial rise from 19,000 in 2021.
Enrique Lucero, the head of the migrant support unit of the Tijuana, Mexico, government, shared his observations with the Wall Street Journal. "The increase in migration from Asia and Africa is remarkable, he noted, adding, These days, we are dealing with 120 nationalities and 60 different languages.
The modus operandi of human smugglers involves leveraging social media to liaise with migrants and arrange what is colloquially known as a "donkey flight" to Latin American nations with minimal or no visa entry requirements. Mexican authorities informed the outlet that these individuals are subsequently transported northwards towards the US Southern border.
Mohamed Aweineny, a migrant from West Africa, recounted his journey through Turkey to Colombia. "I followed the internet to learn how to get to America without a visa, he revealed.
A senior official from the Biden Administration acknowledged the strain on operations due to the surge from diverse regions. "We just dont have longstanding ties or agreements in place with many countries to facilitate quick removals," they stated, adding, "We are actively working on that."
In October, the CPB disclosed its annual border crossing data, revealing a record 2.4 million illegal border crossings. Among those apprehended were 172 non-citizens listed on the terrorist watchlist, marking an increase from the 2022 record of 98 individuals.
The border crisis has led to sanctuary cities grappling with the challenge of accommodating the influx of illegal immigrants. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has prioritized alleviating taxpayer strain by expediting work visas for immigrants.
The city has also initiated the distribution of flyers at borders, advising immigrants to seek work elsewhere, stating, "NYC cannot help you obtain a work permit, and you will not be able to easily find work."
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