Thread: Mexican asylum seekers overwhelm processing centers, put up in hotels

US footing hotel bills for illegal immigrants as sudden influx leaves processing centers overwhelmed: report

• From FOX NEWS
• Last Updated: 10:31 AM, August 12, 2013
• Posted: 10:30 AM, August 12, 2013

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U.S. Border Patrol agents escort a group of undocumented immigrants into custody near the U.S.-Mexico border in Havana, Texas.

A sudden influx of illegal immigrants from Mexico requesting asylum is overwhelming immigration agents in San Diego, forcing agencies to rent hotel rooms for some undocumented families and release others to cities around the U.S.

Documents obtained exclusively by Fox News show Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been paying for hotel rooms for dozens of recently arrived families to relieve overcrowding inside the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, Calif., processing centers. Some ICE employees are working overtime and others have been asked to volunteer to work weekend shifts. “Duties include intake, placements, transports and release of family groups and unaccompanied minors,” according to a memo obtained by Fox News.

The surge has raised suspicions about what is driving the influx, amid claims that illegal immigrants have learned they can attempt to get asylum by using a few key words -- namely, by claiming they have a "credible fear" of drug cartels.

“This clearly has to have been orchestrated by somebody,” said former U.S. Attorney for Southern California Peter Nunez. “It's beyond belief that dozens or hundreds or thousands of people would simultaneously decide that they should go to the U.S. and make this claim.”

Sources say one day last week, 200 border-crossers came through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry claiming asylum while and as many as 550 overflowed inside the processing center there and in nearby San Ysidro.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/leaves_footing_overwhelmed_bills_iK4KPFUqrlZU6BkO2 ZuZHN

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