The United States plans to reopen four legal U.S.-Mexico border crossings on January 4. This decision came in view of the declining levels of illegal immigration and subsequent availability of personnel.
Authorities will resume operations at an international bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas, along with two crossings in Arizona, and a third passage near San Diego, California, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations.
“CBP will continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation,” the release said. “We continue to assess security situations, adjust our operational plans, and deploy resources to maximize enforcement efforts against those noncitizens who do not use lawful pathways or processes – such as scheduling an appointment via CBP One – and those without a legal basis to remain in the United States.”
In December, U.S. border authorities faced challenges in processing migrants, with apprehensions reaching almost 11,000 in a single day.
The announcement coincides with a planned visit by a group of 60 GOP lawmakers to the Eagle Pass border crossing on January 3. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sent a letter to President Biden last month, urging him to take executive action on the border issues.
Many Republicans asserted that the situation has escalated beyond control under Biden's leadership. Mexican and U.S. officials have expressed commitment to enhancing collaboration to address the unprecedented levels of migration at their shared border.
This commitment follows a meeting between top U.S. officials and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador last month in which they discussed strategies to tackle the record migration issue.
According to an internal U.S. government report, U.S. border authorities apprehended an average of 6,400 migrants per day over the past week. This marks a significant decrease from the levels observed before Christmas.
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