Migrants continue to pour across the southern border of the US in groups of hundreds despite the Biden administration’s latest ‘crackdown’.
Video taken Thursday by The Post shows hundreds of migrants from mainly China and Turkey still crossing the border unhindered in California, then rounded up by Border Patrol.
In rural Texas Wednesday, another video obtained by The Post shows scores of migrants from Central and South America crossing onto private land in Normandy, Texas, and being rounded up by state troopers.
The migrants crossing appeared undeterred by President Biden’s executive order which said it will stop processing asylum claims after 2,500 migrants are arrested for entering the US illegally for seven days in a row — meant as a deterrent to stop people from illegally crossing the border.
The order, which went into place Wednesday, will only then lift border restrictions after the number of crossings averages 1,500 for seven consecutive days.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the purpose of the order is “to deter irregular migration.”
However, Border Patrol agents apprehended 4,000 illegal migrants on Thursday alone at the southern border and the agency had 10,000 individuals in custody that day, agency sources told The Post.
Border Patrol processing centers in San Diego — which has been the top area for illegal crossings — reached 237% capacity Thursday, holding roughly 2,300 migrants in facilities with capacity for 1,000, according to internal data.
One border agent recently told The Post they expect mass releases of illegal migrants nito the US to continue.
One of the reasons some migrants will be released is because certain countries, such as China don’t accept regular deportation flights from the US, and are slow to issue travel papers for those marked for deportation.
“I have my doubts about whether the executive order will do a whole lot. It sounds like Mexico is only going to be taking back individuals from a handful of countries.
“The rest will be processed and handed over to ICE. However, if there isn’t detention space or repatriation flights, they’re just going to get released, which is the reason this whole mess exists in the first place,” the source said.
“People are going to figure out exactly what they need to do or say to game the system. I don’t blame them. I blame the system that allows it to happen. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
Although the executive order says asylum applications will be halted, NBC reported migrants will still be screened by asylum officers “but under a higher standard than what’s currently in place.”
If the migrants pass that threshold, they will still be allowed into the US to pursue “other forms of humanitarian protection,” according to the outlet.
Various pathways into the US remain available, including through using the CBPOne app and various parole programs.
In January, President Biden said he “had done all I can do” and required Congress to pass border legislation.
“Just give me the power. I’ve asked from the very day I got into office,” he said at the time. “Give me the Border Patrol, give me the people, the judges — give me the people who can stop this and make it work right.”
Biden’s latest executive order comes just months ahead of the November election as polls consistently show that American voters are increasingly concerned with illegal immigration.