Thread: Arrests, deportations and rising complaints follow Sunday's border shutdown

Arrests, deportations and rising complaints follow Sunday's border shutdown



The day after the border clash between migrants and U.S. Border Patrol, life continued as children waited in one line for food and men in another line. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Sandra Dibble

The aftermath of a confrontation on Sunday that led to a five-hour shutdown of the busiest port of entry in the Western Hemisphere has resulted in dozens of arrests and close to 100 deportations of members of a Central American caravan hoping to cross to the United States, authorities said Monday.

Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said that 69 migrants who managed to cross the border on Sunday were being processed and could face criminal charges related to illegal entry and assaults on agents.

He was not aware of any migrants who crossed the border and avoided apprehension.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s National Migration Institute announced that 98 foreigners would be deported as a result of the “violent behavior of a group of migrants” against immigration agents and Federal Police who were securing Mexico’s port of entry at El Chaparral.

Tijuana’s Public Safety Secretary, Marco Antonio Sotomayor, reported that his department detained 36 people during the conflict, and that they were being turned over to immigration authorities.

“They tried to enter the United States with violence, and that had a very strong effect on Tijuana,” said Sotomayor. “The port of entry is of utmost importance for the economy of the city.”

Sunday’s march to the border started out peacefully, but the calm was shattered as hundreds ran towards the border, attempting to circumvent efforts by Mexican police officers to keep them away from the crossing. From the San Diego side, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers fired tear gas at the advancing crowd.



Life returns back to daily struggles for Central Americans hoping to seek assylum in the United States.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda)


The conflict marked a major escalation in the crisis at the border. It has come as 300 U.S. service members on the southern border have been shifted within the last few days from assignments in Arizona and Texas to work in California, U.S. military officials said Monday.

The situation has centered at the Tijuana-San Diego border, as Tijuana has become the setting this month for thousands of Central Americans aspiring to cross to the United States — with many initially saying they hoped to approach U.S. officials for asylum.

By late Monday, the population in a sports stadium turned into a makeshift shelter for the Central American migrants had swelled to 5,738 people, according to figures from Tijuana City Hall. The majority are men, a total of 3,676, but the group also includes 1,060 women and 1,002 children.

As migrants have continued to arrive, the conditions have been deteriorating. Many are suffering respiratory infections.

Sanitary conditions are getting worse by the day, and growing numbers are now camping out on the street outside the shelter.

“People are scared, scared that there will be repercussions from the people of Tijuana,” said Junior Mendoza, a 27-year-old Honduran. “There was a rumor that they were going to evict us. A lot of people are asking to go home.”

In the aftermath of the border shutdown, state and local authorities have been calling with increased urgency on Mexico’s federal government to step in, as the migrants are in the country without immigration documents and are an increasingly heavy burden on local authorities.

Gov. Francisco Vega de Lamadrid late Sunday demanded Mexico’s National Migration Commission “to do its job so that these migrants are in compliance with our immigration laws.”

He asked that those in violation “be immediately subject to the corresponding deportation process.”

The repercussions are being felt beyond the shelter, reaching into the upscale sectors of the city as well. Dozens of doctors, dentists, pharmacy owners, as well as representatives of medical laboratories, clinics and hospitals gathered in the city’s tony Rio Zone on Monday to urge that government authorities relocate the migrants.

“We have thousands of patients who live in the United States, and when they are prevented from crossing, their human rights are violated too,” said Dr. Abraham Sanchez, president of the Tijuana Medical College.

Doctors have been reporting that as a result of the closure, many patients canceled their appointments because they did not want to cross, and some offices reported a drop in business as high as 70 percent, said Ricardo Vega Montiel, director of the state’s medical cluster.

In a written statement, the group demanded that future caravans “be deviated to other border states.” It also said they will ask local authorities to move the migrants “to other parts of the city where they will be better treated and cared for.”

But the physicians also agreed to offer pediatric and gynecological care to the children and women in the caravan.

And they said they plan to evaluate the sanitary and public health conditions of the shelter.

On Monday morning, the mood at the shelter was somber.

Some said they remained determined to cross, even after the results of Sunday’s march to the border. Others said they would try to remain in Mexico, and find jobs in Tijuana. Rising numbers have been asking to be sent back.

“All of us are having to pay for the actions of others,” said Cristina Barrios, 44, of Guatemala, who said her 12-year-old daughter is suffering severe effects of an allergic reaction to the tear gas. Her immediate plan is to stay in Tijuana, she said, adding that she is willing to take any job.

Armando Colindre, 21, said he stayed away from Sunday’s march, because he has two small children and a wife to take care of. “They were going in peace, nobody wanted to offend anybody,” he said.

The former fruit vendor from Tegucigalpa, Honduras said criminals back home came by three times a week to collect money. His wife is suggesting they look into staying in Mexico, he said, but he still dreams of going to Florida and finding work there.

“The caravan is not going to lose its unity,” Colindre said. “We are going to insist and insist and insist until we are able to enter,” he said, adding, “If God allows.”

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...126-story.html

“If God allows.”

God ain't allowin', Whiner. GO HOME.

IS THIS HOW THEY LIVE IN MEXICO( OMG )

God has nothing to do with it.

You all are not welcome here...NONE of you.

GO HOME AND PRAY TO JESUS ON YOUR SOIL AND CHANGE YOUR OWN COUNTRY.

Take the free bus ride and go back!

Move those migrants BACK to their home countries where their President will take care of them.

We do not want ANY at any of our border states! So do not pull that stunt either! You will not be permitted in.

US citizens are "paying for your actions"! The costs and crime is skyrocketing, the medical care, school costs, welfare and food stamps! We do not have affordable housing! There are no jobs for them! Our courts, jails, prisons are overcrowded.

KEEP THEM ALL OUT

NO MORE MONEY, NO AID, NO OATMEAL

WE ARE NOT THE DUMPING GROUND OR ATM MACHINE FOR THE WORLD

WE HAVE OUR OWN VIOLENCE, POVERTY, HOMELESS TO TAKE CARE OF!