Migrant Crisis at the Southern Border
Eagle Pass, Texas — A familiar scene is unfolding in towns along the southern border of the United States. Thousands of migrants are sitting in rows, side-by-side, overwhelming Border Patrol agents.
According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the number of apprehended migrants has been steadily rising. Last week, nearly 7,900 migrants were apprehended every day, compared to an average of 6,000 per day in October.
On Tuesday, the influx of migrants reached a new high, with over 10,500 individuals crossing into the United States. Texas' Del Rio sector alone accounted for more than 4,000 migrants, as they made their way across the 245-mile stretch of the Rio Grande River.
The situation is further complicated by the recent signing of the controversial Senate Bill 4 by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. This law, set to take effect in March, grants troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety, as well as sheriff's deputies, the authority to charge and arrest migrants for illegally crossing the border.
In Eagle Pass, Texas, one makeshift staging area witnessed women and children navigating through razor-sharp concertina wire in their quest to claim asylum. Although these migrants were technically not in federal Border Patrol custody, they awaited processing.
Senate Bill 4 Becomes Law in Texas
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law at a ceremony along the border in Brownsville. The goal of the bill is to address the issue of illegal entry into Texas. Governor Abbott stated, "Senate Bill 4 is now law in the state of Texas."
However, Sheriff Tom Schmerber of Maverick County, which includes Eagle Pass, expressed concerns about the lack of resources to enforce SB4. He believes that the law has diverted manpower from other security responsibilities in the county. Sheriff Schmerber said, "We don't want to do it. And it's going to be impossible."
Various civil rights groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, have filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas in an attempt to block SB4. They argue that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and should not be handled by the state.
Lawsuit Challenges SB4
The lawsuit claims that the state is overstepping its authority and depriving individuals subject to the immigration system of their federal rights and due process. It argues that Congress has provided them with the right to contest removal and seek asylum.
Amidst the growing migrant crisis, law enforcement officials seem to have mixed feelings about the desperation faced by those attempting to cross the Rio Grande. A recent video showed a woman holding a young child while trying to navigate the fast-moving river.
Despite her desperate pleas for help, the woman's cries go unanswered. She is exhausted and fears drowning, but the nearby Texas National Guard and state troopers do not intervene. Even a CBP air boat speeds by without stopping.
Eventually, she manages to make it safely back to the Mexican side.
In response to the video, the Texas National Guard issues a statement. They claim that their soldiers approached the woman and determined that she did not show any signs of distress or injury. They also state that the soldiers were able to assist her in returning to the Mexican shore. However, they continue to monitor the situation.
