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Dozens of migrants who illegally crossed the US border this weekend as part of a chaotic rush at one of the busiest border entry points are currently in detention, a Fox News told a senior Homeland Security official.
The official said Monday that about 50 migrants had been arrested after crossing the border near San Ysidro, California on Sunday. The exact number of people apprehended should be made public later today, the official added.
In Mexico, the Tijuana municipal government also announced the arrest of more than three dozen migrants for disturbing the peace and other charges related to the attempted crossing. Thousands of migrants gathered there after crossing Mexico in a series of caravans from Central America – and are probably among those arrested on both sides of the border.
During the mad rush, US border agents fired several shots of tear gas after migrants tried to enter various locations along the border and threw what appeared to be stones and bottles at the US authorities.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement that some migrants "attempted to violate the old fence infrastructure along the border and sought to harm CBP personnel by throwing projectiles at them.
As I have always said, the DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to close the entry points for reasons of security and public safety, "he said. Nielsen said, "We will also strive to bring criminal charges against anyone who destroys federal property, endangers our front-line operators, or violates the sovereignty of our nation."
Migrants cross the river in Mexico-United States. Border after passing a line of Mexican police at Chaparral checkpoint in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday.
(AP)
The Mexican Interior Ministry also announced Sunday that it would immediately expel migrants who were attempting to violate the border "violently." The Mexican government described Sunday's events as "provocative acts" that were "far from useful" to the goals of migrants.
The situation has changed after the group began a peaceful march to appeal to the United States to expedite the processing of asylum claims for Central American migrants stranded in Tijuana.
The Mexican police prevented them from crossing a bridge leading to the Mexican port of entry, but the migrants pushed the police to pass in front of the officers to cross the Tijuana River below the bridge. On the other hand, the police were carrying plastic riot shields, but the migrants were walking along the river to an area where only an earthen dyke and an accordion wire separated them from border patrol agents. US.
Some saw an opportunity to cross the passage. The actions forced the United States Customs and Border Protection to suspend north and south crossings for pedestrians and vehicles at the San Ysidro port at approximately 11:30 am local time. He then tweeted that the pedestrian crossings had reopened, just over four hours after the initial closing. Vehicle lanes reopened around 5 pm local time, five and a half hours after closing.
The Trump administration has stated that asylum claims from members of a series of caravans from Central America should be processed outside the United States and that all persons entering illegally would be refused. A federal judge has at least temporarily ruled against the policy, but the administration has taken steps to toughen the border.
"Mexico should move the flag by waving migrants, many of whom are unscrupulous criminals, to their country," Trump said early Monday morning on Twitter. "Fly it, do it by bus, do it the way you want, but do NOT go back to the United States. We will close the border permanently if necessary. Congress, finance the wall! "
Jenkins Griff Jenkins, Greg Wilson, Gregg Re and Associated Press contributed to this report.
