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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 4 december 2019

Asylum seekers jam U.S. border

crossings to evade Trump policy

By ASTRID GALVAN asylum seekers attempting unofficial line in Mexico un-
Associated Press to evade established entry til U.S. authorities call them
PHOENIX (AP) — For processes." "These tactics up in a process that usually
months, asylum seekers interfere with CBP officers lasts several months.
have been prohibited from conducting their respon- Another policy, colloquially
filing their claims at U.S. sibilities and exacerbates known as "Remain in Mex-
border crossings under a wait times for daily com- ico," requires asylum seek-
much-criticized Trump ad- muters," the agency said in ers to return to Mexico after
ministration policy. Now a statement. "CBP will not they have made credible
some are sprinting down allow ports to be overrun, fear claims to justify their
vehicle lanes or renting or unauthorized entry." asylum requests and wait This June 1, 2009, file photo, shows vehicles waiting to enter the
cars to try to make it inside The traffic jams could hurt there while their immigra- U.S. through The Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in downtown
Nogales, Ariz.
the U.S. sales at stores in Nogales, tion cases are pending.q Associated Press
The migrants' efforts are Arizona that depend on
causing traffic delays at Mexican shoppers during
Arizona crossings because the holiday season, said
U.S. Customs and Border Mayor Arturo Garino.
Protection officials had to Garino, a part-time teach-
barricade lanes used by er, said some students and
cars legally entering the teachers who live in Mexi-
U.S. from Mexico, officials co but attend and work at
said. schools across the border
Advocates say many have in the U.S. have been leav-
become desperate after ing their homes as early as
waiting for months to le- 5 a.m. to arrive on time.
gally ask for asylum, often Garino said Mexican au-
in poor conditions and thorities were not doing
while facing threats of kid- enough to stem the prob-
napping, extortion and vio- lem. The Arizona Daily Star
lence south of the border. reported the Nogales, So-
Shoppers, teachers and nora, police officers were
visitors traveling to the U.S. checking cars headed
through Nogales, Mexico, north to the border on
endured up to five-hour Monday afternoon. About
waits Monday and over 3,000 migrants are living in
the weekend, causing Nogales, Mexico as they
concerns among local of- wait their turns to seek asy-
ficials whose tax base relies lum, said Katie Sharar, com-
on Mexican shoppers, es- munications director for
pecially during the holiday the Kino Border Initiative, a
season. religious-based group that
In a statement, Customs provides meals to needy
and Border Protection migrants on the Mexican
said it's committed to the side of the border.
safety of border crossers, Under a policy by the Trump
adding that there's been administration known wide-
an increase of incursions ly as "metering," the asy-
through vehicle lanes "by lum-seekers must wait in an