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US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that they are facing a “serious challenge” due to a surge in illegal migrant crossings at the southern border.
In a statement, CBP commissioner Troy Miller said, “The encounter levels we are currently seeing across the southwest border are presenting a serious challenge to the men and women of [Customs and Border Protection].”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the increase of migrants illegally entering the United States is due to a “global refugee crisis,” adding that the CBP is encountering a variety of new methods used by migrants to enter the US. According to the United Nations, “110 million people worldwide who were forced from their homes as of the end of 2022 — the most since the chaos during and after World War II.”
The strain on CBP resources has become extensive, leading to a redeployment of staff and an increase in risky smuggling practices. Commissioner Miller elaborated on these dangers, saying, “Smugglers are recklessly putting migrants into harm’s way: in remote locations across the border, onto the tops of trains, or into the waters of the Rio Grande River.”
The CBP’s response to this crisis includes the temporary shutdown of international freight rail traffic at certain crossings, as part of a strategy to manage the influx of migrants. This has led to criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, who are now both accusing the federal government of failing to get a handle on the situation. Last week, Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona openly criticized the Biden administration for “failing” to secure the border, leading to the deployment of the Arizona National Guard.
In addition to lawmakers, industry leaders are also beginning to raise concerns about the impacts of closing railways and entry points, which are leading to a significant effect on the movement of commerce. President and CEO of the Association of American Railroads, Ian Jefferies, said, “The urgency of reopening these crossings and restoring rail service between the two nations cannot be overstated.”
