The United States is set to reopen four legal U.S.-Mexico border crossings on Thursday, citing a reduction in illegal immigration and the subsequent availability of personnel, according to U.S. border authorities on Tuesday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the resumption of operations at an international bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas, along with two crossings in Arizona and one near San Diego, California. The news release emphasized that while reopening these crossings, the commitment to prioritizing border security would persist “as necessary.”
The move comes after U.S. border authorities faced challenges in December, processing migrants as daily apprehensions soared to nearly 11,000, a figure considered by some current and former officials to be near or at a record high.
Last week, Mexican and U.S. officials pledged increased collaboration to address the escalating migration situation at their shared border. High-level U.S. officials traveled to Mexico for discussions with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
President Joe Biden, upon his arrival at the White House on Tuesday evening, expressed the need for financial support to enhance border protection, seemingly directing the statement towards members of Congress.
Recent weeks have seen intensified immigration enforcement by Mexican officials, including the relocation of migrants to southern Mexico and the resumption of deportation flights to Venezuela, as disclosed by a senior U.S. official during a Tuesday briefing, requesting anonymity.
According to an internal U.S. government report reviewed by Reuters, U.S. border authorities arrested an average of 6,400 migrants per day over the past week, marking a significant decline from the levels observed before Christmas. However, another official on the call cautioned that migrant crossings typically decrease between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile, discussions among U.S. lawmakers continue regarding a potential deal that would integrate heightened border security measures with foreign aid, including military funding for Ukraine, according to officials.
