The Trump administration has taken the unprecedented step of sending immigrants who have crossed the border without authorization to other cities for processing at a rate of about 3,000 per week. As U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials struggle to keep up with the continuing surge of migrants, they are flying and busing thousands of immigrants to other locations. These sites include San Diego and Del Rio, Texas, as well as El Centro, California, and Laredo, Texas. Processing of immigrants at the new location consists of taking photographs and fingerprints and completing background checks and health screenings.
CBP is required to process immigrants within 72 hours of their arrival. At no time in history has CBP had to send immigrants to other locations due to an inability to process them within the 72-hour timeframe. They also have insufficient space to house the immigrants, which is available in other places. Most immigrants being sent elsewhere are coming from Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and Yuma, Arizona. Some CBP officials claim that the Trump administration also is considering sending the influx of immigrants to other locations in the U.S., including Florida, Detroit, and Buffalo, New York.
The exact number of immigrants being sent elsewhere is unknown. However, CBP reportedly is sending five planes per week to Del Rio and three planes per week to San Diego. Each plane holds approximately 130 immigrants. Four buses with about 47 passengers travel to Laredo every day. Likewise, vans carrying about 125 per day are driving El Centro.
Although this change in logistics usually would be part of a plan approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House, CBP and ICE appear to have taken control of this venture out of sheer necessity. The immigration lawyers of Peek Law Group have handled the immigration cases of countless individuals and businesses facing immigration-related issues. We are here to protect your rights and advocate on your behalf to get the outcome that you are seeking. Call our office today at (512) 399-2311 to set up an appointment with our immigration attorneys.