Federal officials have admitted to welding open gates in sections of border wall located near Lukeville, Arizona, an area known to be the nation’s busiest border sector. The open gates have allowed thousands of migrants to freely enter what is now the busiest sector on the U.S.-Mexico Border, according to a New York Post report.
The Tucson Sector led the nation in migrant apprehensions in July, logging nearly 40,000 arrests. This number is an increase of 136 percent over July 2020. The sector also logged more apprehensions than any other in year-to-date figures with nearly 274,000 migrants arrested this year. These figures are an increase of 59 percent over the same period in 2020.
Migrants have been using the open gates to enter the United States with ease, say New York Post sources. “It was so easy to get into the United States. Nothing like our trip through Mexico. That part was difficult. I thought there was going to be more security,” one Cuban migrant admitted.
Brandon Judd, National Border Patrol Council President, believes the Mexican cartels are to blame. “Because the cartels are constantly surveilling what we do, the moment something gets left open, it gets exploited,” Judd stated. “In this particular case, it exploded almost immediately, which shows you how adept the criminal cartels are at exploiting any weakness at any time that we show them.”
The gates were installed in the border wall construction to allow monsoon season flood waters and migratory animals to safely pass through. While high water flow and excessive sediment can threaten the design integrity of the barrier, Judd believes the gates should never be left open.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond for comment. However, the agency has reportedly acknowledged its responsibility for the decision to weld open the gates.
The Biden administration has taken heat for the increased border crossings from Republicans, who accuse the President of having weak border policies. Meanwhile, the administration has argued that current immigration laws are out of date and need to be reformed, reports The Huffington Post.
U.S. border agencies are continuing to face a crisis-level influx of migrants at the southern border, and while the recent report of open gates near Lukeville may bring clarity to the story, it is yet to be seen what the Biden administration will do in response.
Biden admin opens the border gates in Arizona https://t.co/FnxCKrIQq8
— Bob Price (@BobPriceBBTX) August 23, 2023
