Illegal border crossings plummeting during coronavirus outbreak
Apr 14, 2020, 4:35 AM
(Getty Images/John Moore)
(Getty Images/John Moore)
PHOENIX — The global spread of coronavirus has drastically reduced the flow of illegal border crossings into the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan told reporters during a phone conference that U.S. border detention centers had detained 20,000 people last May.
Morgan said that the number of individuals currently detained along with southwest border is less than 100.
While the USBP is turning migrants at the border back to their home countries and limiting the asylum process, Morgan says this is not part of an immigration-specific policy.
“Word matter on this,” Morgan said. “We did not shut down our borders.”
“It’s being driven by the global pandemic and public health of the United States, and of Canada, Mexico, and the northern triangle countries” in Central America. All of these countries have their own border restrictions to stop the viral spread.”
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Morgan says the sickest illegal immigrants caught at the border are sent to hospitals after a health screening.
“We are protecting them — our agents and the American public — from potential exposure by people held in our facilities,” he said.
Morgan also told reporters Mexico and other countries are sending their illegal immigrants to wherever home is, all to stop COVID-19’s spread.
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Morgan’s message to illegal immigrants is that, by trying to enter the U.S. at this time, they’re endangering themselves, family members and USBP agents and their families.
He added that smugglers are also putting children at risk by transporting them with adults who could be infected.
“The smugglers are shoving them [children] into tractor trailers, along with adults, along with other people, or they’re shoved them into overcrowded stash houses,” Morgan said.
In addition to their immigration duties, Morgan added the USBP is trying to facilitate as much legal trade and commerce at various points of entry to cushion COVID-19’s economic blow.
