As impeachment fever soaks up the oxygen in Washington D.C., the crisis on the southern border with Mexico continues to get worse by the day.
Yesterday marked a new and grave milestone for Border Patrol agents as more than 1,000 illegal aliens, the vast majority falsely claiming asylum, poured over the border into the United States.
“The apprehension of 1,036 individuals in a single group – the largest group ever encountered by Border Patrol agents – demonstrates the severity of the border security and humanitarian crisis at our Southwest border,” Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Robert Perez released in a statement. “The dedicated men and women of CBP, and in particular the U.S Border Patrol, are doing their very best every day to address the influx of family units and unaccompanied children.”
1,036 individuals were apprehended by El Paso Sector Border Patrol as part of a large group yesterday morning. This is the largest group ever encountered illegally crossing the border. All the individuals were from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. https://t.co/bAIYh4XRFf pic.twitter.com/HybMuBvcTj
— CBP (@CBP) May 30, 2019
According to CBP, "all members of the group were from Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador," made up of "934 family members, 63 unaccompanied minors, and 39 single adults."
"They were taken into custody for processing and initial medical screenings. They will remain in U.S. Border Patrol custody until they are processed accordingly," CBP says.
Already this year, more than 500,000 people have been apprehended. That means the U.S. is on track for more than one million illegal entries by the end of 2019.
Over 500,000 people have been apprehended on the SW border this FY.
— CBP (@CBP) May 31, 2019
TOTAL SW border apprehensions have surpassed every FY since 2009.
USBP has more people in custody than there are Agents on the SW border.
Apprehensions remain on track to surpass 1 million people this FY. pic.twitter.com/pMqiR4rU5B
In the month of May alone, USBP has apprehended 45 large groups totaling more than 7,900 individuals. Including yesterday’s apprehension, Border Patrol agents have encountered 180 large groups on the Southwest Border.
— CBP (@CBP) May 30, 2019
Processing groups of this size places a tremendous strain on CBP’s resources and operations. The dramatic increase of large groups pulls frontline personnel to conduct humanitarian efforts and draws resources away from frontline enforcement—placing border security at risk.
— CBP (@CBP) May 30, 2019
Last night President Trump announced new tariffs on Mexico unless the government does more to stop the illegal flow of Central Americans and drugs.
On June 10th, the United States will impose a 5% Tariff on all goods coming into our Country from Mexico, until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP. The Tariff will gradually increase until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied,..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2019
In order not to pay Tariffs, if they start rising, companies will leave Mexico, which has taken 30% of our Auto Industry, and come back home to the USA. Mexico must take back their country from the drug lords and cartels. The Tariff is about stopping drugs as well as illegals!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
90% of the Drugs coming into the United States come through Mexico & our Southern Border. 80,000 people died last year, 1,000,000 people ruined. This has gone on for many years & nothing has been done about it. We have a 100 Billion Dollar Trade Deficit with Mexico. It’s time!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham has introduced a bill that would put an end to this specific crisis.