The number of immigrants attempting to flee persecution in their own countries and asking for help on the San Diego border increased to such a degree in the last few weeks that processing them has proved impossible for federal officials. The result is that many are stranded in Tijuana, running out of money, as they await a decision on their fate.
Border officials are attempting to get through the backlog but processing the immigrants and then moving them into immigration detention from temporary holding cells takes time. A Customs and Border Protection official said that the agency remains committed to taking care of the people they are holding in custody. It is collaborating with partners, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to resolve the backlog.
According to media outlets in Tijuana, last week almost 100 immigrants lined up in a plaza outside the walkway leading to the pedestrian border crossing, known as PedWest, which opened earlier in 2017. Immigrants scared of losing their place, then having to wait even longer to be processed by Customs and Border Protection slept in line, be told they could no longer stay where they were by Mexican officials.
In 2016, the ports of San Diego were overwhelmed by thousands of immigrants from Haiti, though the current influx has not yet reached that level. ICE detains immigrants claiming to be afraid to return to their home countries until interviews can be held to determine the credibility of their claims, impacting on their chances in immigration court.