The surge of Central American families seeking asylum at U.S. borders is not letting up, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske said Wednesday after touring a temporary holding facility in the Rio Grande Valley set up to manage the influx.
The number of apprehensions along the southwestern border can be close to 2,000 a day — with most people turning themselves in, Kerlikowske said in a phone interview. The November influx was as high as what was seen in October: 46,195, he said.
The precise monthly number is to be announced next week.
The facility at the Donna-Rio Bravo International Bridge is due to open Friday and process up to 500 people a day. The 40,000-square-foot white canopy tent is in a field near the river, surrounded by a barbed wire-topped fence.
Kerlikowske toured a similar facility Tuesday that is already up-and-running in Tornillo, near El Paso. Officials say the facilities will be running as long as they’re needed.
The goal is to get people processed more quickly, 24 hours for unaccompanied minors and 72 hours for families. The tent will have showers, laundry and a first aid station, and Kerlikowske said the migrants would get outdoor exercise daily.
Kerlikowske said he could not comment on what effect, if any, the weekend release of 470 migrant children and parents from two Texas detention centers would have on Border Patrol processing. Those centers are run by a separate division of the Department of Homeland Security.
The release followed a ruling Friday by a state judge that the state could not license the privately run detention centers as child-care facilities.
A steady influx of Central Americans fleeing violence and poverty in their homelands began in 2014.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Audrey Jane Spaulding says
Send them back and Now. They have no right to storm our Borders. That is why we need a fence and we need it manned.
This is not the way to come to the USA, Get a Work Visa and wait your turn.
santa says
We have to replace all the people running our centers for immigration. Right now if your not from the middle east you will not get in legaly
PattieA says
Has anybody thought that these illegals use their children as shields, pawn and anchors?? They come here to get their hands on EVERYTHING THEY CAN — BECAUSE EVENTUALLY, THEIR REWARD IS CITIZENSHIP. FELLOW AMERICANS: PLEASE, PLEASE WAKE UP TO THE FACT THE THIS ANTIQUATED LAW PROTECTS THEM. IT SHOULD BE REPEAL IMMEDIATELY. JOIN ME IN CAMPAIGNING AGAINST GIVING THESE INTRUDERS AND LAW BREAKERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME CITIZENS. THANKS
El Tejas says
They are stepping up the invasion!
King Kong vs. Godzilla says
I can’t wait to start war at the Southern Border….is time to be SEMPER FI…. and Kill those Mexican people….(Can’t read….??, Shoot them anyway….worrying about it later….).
lizaz says
Hopefully in 41 days this will cease. They have been coached as to what to say to gain asylum and the administration wants as many in as possible, leaving us taxpayers to support these illegal aliens for who knows how long. This is not immigration….immigrants go through the process legally…calling them “undocumented immigrants” is wrong. They are illegal aliens and we are hopeful the new administration will start enforcing our current laws!!!
Eric says
How much can America take? How long can America feed the world? Does anybody think of this ever? We can’t even take care of our own people in this country and now we are letting 50,000 immigrants per month cross our borders? What in the hell is wrong with the politicians in this country? Come on Trump – Build as many walls as are needed and man them with U.S. troops – if nothing else it will give our military training.
Jon Barnard says
Either send them back where they came from or arrest & deport them. They have no business trying to get in the U.S. unless they have a work visa.
King Kong vs. Godzilla says
No Jon…, don’t arrested or deported….!?, Shoot them to kill…, Save our Taxpayer money…(Think small….NOT Big). I hope you agree with me….SEMPER FI….!!!
Yadja says
Let them Hungary just took it’s army and escorted millions out of their country. Sweden forcefully put 60,000 on boats and sent them back. They then refused another 80,000. Slavic countries don’t accept refugees and these people flooding over now, according to congressional hearings I listened to are coming across and saying they have some form of OK from America and they include 75% men from Africa, Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan the entire bad bunch of invaders.
Trump puts our immigration laws back in play, puts the military on the border until it can be secured, closes Sanctuary cities, stops the benefits, which a judge just told O is illegal and only legal citizens get our benefits, stop the jobs they will leave by the thousands on their own accord. No food, no housing, no furniture, no gift cards, no checks monthly no SS no nothing watch them exit.
Too boot just found out this week O raiding Flu Research, Mental health, Zika Virus Research, remember how many millions he wanted for that, Cancer Research, SS, Medicare and even went into the DOD for money to give these people while our own dying in the streets and in VA hospitals.
This is over Trump has all the laws on the books he needs to stop this, deport them and close the border along with any immigration he deems fit to stop. Been done before and will be done again.
Ms.Vickie T says
If they were coming in legally, they would be coming in through the Ports of Entry, not running across the border or climbing a fence to gain entry to our country.
King Kong vs. Godzilla says
Vickie…, It doesn’t matter where they come in whether Port entry or whatever…?, There a “Warning signs” along the Border Stated not to come through the Border…., Illegal come through anyway…. My advise is just shoot to Kill….I don’t care who or where they come from…..(Unless you want to use your BILLION and BILLION DOLLARS as a TAXPAYER to support them as a WELFARE that keep our Nation DEBTS to added another TRILLION DOLARS as Up to date 21 TRILLION DOLLARS…..!!!!!!!). This is what BLACK PRESIDENT want you to do …!!! YOU AS A TAXPAYER PAY ALL ILLEGAL EXPENSE…..!!!!! DON’T BE SOFT…..! BE TOUGH…..!! WHY DO YOU THINK NATIONAL DEBTS COME FROM…..????? MUSLIM, HISPANIC, LATIN ALL CREATED TO KILL AMERICAN PEOPLE….. Figure this out formula….. I already know the all the facts keys and ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT are the MAJOR ROLE to America downgrade (TWICE) and Fast!!! This is all BLACK ASS PRESIDENT IDEA AND PLANNED FOR EIGHT YEARSand He (Obama) hope Hillary Clinton to be President so that she will follow Obama step to continue more KILLING AMERICA until nothing left…… (I Hope you read what I said and THINK!!!!, what OBAMA and CLINTON intend to do if happened….!?!?)