Staff Reports
San Diego is now at the heart of what Jim Desmond, a Republican on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, calls the "Biden border crisis." According to Desmond, the number of illegal migrants entering the United States through San Diego has soared, with thousands crossing into the city weekly and being released into the country without restrictions.
Desmond highlighted that the influx is not limited to land routes but also involves sea crossings. He described a scenario where boats are bypassing federal military and police to drop off migrants along the Pacific coast, with San Diego seeing 3 to 4 boats a week washing up on its shores. Illegal migrants are then making their way into nearby neighborhoods. This recent surge adds to the estimated 130,000 migrants already on San Diego's streets. The situation has escalated to the point where nearly 1,000 people a day are being released into the city.
Over 130,000 migrant drop-offs since September.
Over 30,000 migrant drop-offs in the past 2 months.
Nearly 1,000 migrant drop-offs today.San Diego is the new epicenter for migrants and illegal immigration. https://t.co/58rfV5iiyK
— Supervisor Jim Desmond (@jim_desmond) April 24, 2024
Recent statistics from U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicate that Border Patrol agents in the San Diego region arrested 33,000 illegal immigrants in March, the second-highest number among border sectors, trailing only Tucson, Arizona. However, with increasing migrant activity, San Diego may soon surpass Tucson, pending updated data expected in mid-May.
Desmond attributes the surge in illegal crossings to criminal smuggling networks shifting their operations to California's western border, particularly San Diego. Initially, during the early days of the Biden administration, the majority of immigrants were arrested crossing the Texas border. As Texas and Arizona tightened border security, smugglers began targeting California, where there was less resistance. This has led to a significant shift, with only one-third of illegal immigrants arrested across the southern border now apprehended in Texas, down from two-thirds.
To manage the crisis, the federal government has allocated $38 million to San Diego County to support migrants after their release from federal custody. Desmond expressed concern about the county's role in dispersing migrants across the country, noting that the goal is to move as many as possible via planes, trains, or automobiles. He cautioned that other parts of the country should brace themselves, stating, “Sorry, America, this is what we have become, and soon, they’ll be coming to your town.”
The border crisis, previously concentrated in Texas and the Eagle Pass community, has now shifted to San Diego, placing significant strain on local resources. The Department of Homeland Security has yet to respond to inquiries about this escalating situation.
In summary, San Diego has become the focal point of the growing border crisis, with thousands of illegal migrants entering the city every week. This surge is a call for more robust border security and comprehensive immigration policies, as the impact is no longer confined to border areas but is affecting communities across the United States.
