Thousands of immigrants cross into Texas as cartels push disinformation

Cartels Attempting to Funnel Immigrants Across the Border

As the end of Title 42 approaches, cartels are attempting to funnel tens of thousands of immigrants hunkered down in Mexican cities along the border waiting to cross into the United States under false pretenses.

Over the past week, Border Patrol agents apprehended 51,560 noncitizens who illegally crossed the border between the land ports of entry.

DHS and State Debut Plan to Screen Migrants at Outposts in Central and South America

Approximately 10,000 people crossed into the El Paso region over the past week, while the Rio Grande Valley city of Brownsville had 7,000 people cross and surrender to Border Patrol in the same time frame.

Large groups crossing in that time are oftentimes misguided by people, including cartels, looking to profit. Many immigrants have been camped out long-term in Matamoros and Ciudad Juarez, across from Brownsville and El Paso, respectively, after traveling from Central and South America with the hope that Title 42 would soon end.

Nongovernmental organizations in Ciudad Juarez told Border Patrol the city has 30,000 immigrants waiting to cross into the U.S. on May 11, the day after Title 42 is slated to end.

Title 42 was a public health policy that allowed Border Patrol agents to send illegal immigrants back to Mexico immediately, and agents did not have to transport, process, and detain people in the U.S. It also barred immigrants from seeking asylum at the ports of entry.

Border Patrol has been ardently fighting disinformation from organizations and people in Mexico who have told immigrants in recent weeks of special opportunities to cross the border and not be sent back to Mexico. Some immigrants have been told to pay smugglers to cross at a specific spot that is an exception to Title 42.

Others in Mexico have posed as immigration lawyers and offered what they claimed were U.S. immigration documents — at a cost equivalent to $50. It was only when immigrants were apprehended by Border Patrol that they were told the documents they purchased were not real and would not guarantee their release into the country.

In response, Border Patrol has worked with U.S. consulates in Mexico to dispel the false information and rumors.

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