So many Mexicans at the Otay crossing near San Diego have entered the United States in recent days by using “keywords and phrases” — specifically, “credible fear” of repercussions from drug lords — that the border processing center shut down, officials said.
On Aug. 5 alone, Border Patrol agents said about 200 people attempted to cross the border, citing “credible fear” of the drug cartels, a Fox News affiliate in Phoenix reported.
“They are being told if they come across the border, when they come up to the border and they say certain words, they will be allowed into the country,” said one person who asked for anonymity during a televised interview with the news station. “We are being overwhelmed.”
The Associated Press said the United States has received a massive number of asylum requests in recent years. Federal immigration authorities said they’ve fielded more than 19,119 requests between January and May of this year and expect another 28,600 by year’s end.
By comparison, the agency received only 5,369 the entire year of 2009, Breitbart reported.
Pete Nunez, a former U.S. Attorney and immigration expert, said, “There has to be a policy change, something implemented, an emergency implementation that will stop this, or otherwise we will have thousands coming in.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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