Despair leads migrants to cross illegally, according to activists

Border activists denounce that due to poor access and long waits to request appointments through the CBPOne application, migrants are forced to cross the border through remote areas and wait for the Border Patrol.

Pedro De Velasco, director of legal advice at the Kino Border Initiative

“Nor there are enough appointments available for people who are looking for it, then due to lack of access at ports of entry and the desperation of months of waiting at the Mexican border. So, all these families that are crossing through remote places sit there waiting for Border Patrol.”

The Department of Homeland Security assured that of the 700 appointments they awarded when they launched the application in January 2023, they have almost doubled that number, which they attribute to a good modernization process.

Luis Miranda, Spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

“It is important to recognize that we have 1,400 spaces a day to consider people who come to the ports of entry, it does not mean that everyone is guaranteed to enter, that is important because there is an expectation that perhaps everyone will to be able to enter and the reality is that the immigration laws of the United States have many limitations.”

He The Department of Homeland Security warned that illegally crossing the border, failing to do so through border ports, carries consequences that include deportation, criminal charges and losing the right to come to the United States for five years or more.