A large number of migrants crossed into the United States from Mexico by breaking through razor wire on Thursday, according to the border patrol. This incident adds to the ongoing immigration crisis in the country, which is a major issue in the lead-up to the November presidential election.
Republicans blame President Joe Biden for the surge in migrants, while the White House accuses Republicans of obstructing bipartisan efforts to address the problem.
Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas and an ally of former President Donald Trump, mentioned on X that officers quickly regained control and reinforced the razor wire barriers.
On Thursday morning, a group of migrants pushed past part of the razor wire barricade set up by the Texas National Guard between the Rio Grande River and the border wall in El Paso, Texas. Video footage showed migrants overwhelming soldiers as they breached the wire.
After getting through the barricade, the migrants encountered a tall section of the border wall, which they couldn’t penetrate.
According to US Customs and Border Protection, border patrol agents detained the migrants at the nearby border wall and took them to a central processing station for handling.
Under the law, migrants can stay in the country while their asylum request progresses or their deportation is processed if they don’t meet the requirements.
This incident coincides with legal battles over a Texas law, Senate Bill 4, which would allow state police to arrest and deport migrants who illegally cross into the United States from Mexico. The law was put on hold on Tuesday pending further legal proceedings.
The issue of immigration was thrust into the spotlight last month when former President Trump successfully pressured Republicans to block a congressional bill that included stringent border security measures, typically supported by the right.