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A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 6 March 2019

Record-breaking family migration overwhelming border agency

By COLLEEN LONG seizures were up nearly 70
Associated Press percent from the last bud-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The get year.
number of migrant fami- Complaints of excessive
lies crossing the southwest force prompted the border
border is again breaking enforcement agency to
records, and the crush commission an audit and
is overwhelming border investigation by the Police
agents and straining facili- Executive Research Fo-
ties, officials said Tuesday. rum, a research and policy
More than 76,000 migrants group. The 2013 audit high-
crossed the U.S.-Mexico lighted problems that in-
border last month, more cluded foot-patrol agents
than double the number without access to less-
from the same period last lethal options, and it rec-
year. Most were families ommended law enforce-
coming in ever-increasingly ment not be allowed to use
large groups — there were deadly force when people
70 groups of more than throw rocks — a suggestion
100 people in the past few that was rejected.
months, and they cross il- Following those reviews,
legally in extremely rural major training and poli-
locations with few agents cy changes were made.
and staff. There were only U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Kevin McAleenan speaks during a news conference Border Patrol agents now
13 large groups during the in Washington, Tuesday, March 5, 2019. undergo scenario-based
previous budget year, and Associated Press drills at the academy and
only two the year before. After the deaths of two mi- over the last budget year year 2018, down from a learn how to de-escalate
The system “is well beyond grant children in Border Pa- compared with the high high of 55 reported during tense situations. They get
capacity, and remains at trol custody, Customs and of 1.6 million in 2000, the the 2012 budget year, and 64 hours of on-the-job train-
the breaking point,” U.S. Border Protection stepped increasing numbers are down from 17 during 2017’s ing on use of force. Agents
Customs and Border Pro- up medical screenings. alarming, officials said. budget year and 25 the and officers are authorized
tection Commissioner Kev- They also announced Those apprehended used year before. to use deadly force when
in McAleenan said a press sweeping changes includ- to be mostly single men Despite high-profile in- there is reasonable belief in
conference Tuesday. ing more rigorous interviews from Mexico, but are now stances in recent months an imminent danger of seri-
The new figures reflect the as migrants come into the mostly families from Central where agents used tear ous physical injury or death
difficulties President Donald system. America — since October, gas on groups of migrants to the officer or another
Trump has faced as he tries And McAleenan said a more than 130,000 families that included children, use person.
to cut down on illegal immi- new processing center have been apprehended of less-lethal force like tear They have discretion on
gration, his signature issue. would be built in El Paso, between ports of entry. gas, batons or stun guns are how to deploy less-than-
But it could also help him Texas, that will be better From October through Sep- also down, to 898. That’s a lethal force: It must be both
make the case that there suited to manage families tember 2018, about the decrease from the high in “objectively reasonable
truly is a national emer- and children and handle same number of families 2013 of 1,168, according to and necessary in order to
gency at the border — al- medical care concerns — was apprehended at the the data. carry out law enforcement
beit one built around hu- but it’s not a permanent U.S.-Mexico border. Tens During 2018’s fiscal year, duties” — and used when
manitarian crises and not solution. of thousands of children il- border agents and offi- other “empty hand” tech-
necessarily border security. “While our enhanced med- legally cross the border cers seized more than 1.7 niques are not sufficient to
The Senate is expected to ical efforts will assist in man- alone. While single men pounds of narcotics, includ- control disorderly or violent
vote next week and join aging the increased flows, used to evade capture, ing 1.1 million pounds of subjects.
the House in rejecting his the fact is that these solu- the families are seeking out marijuana, 282,570 pounds Officials say they deploy the
national emergency dec- tions are temporary and agents. of cocaine, 6,552 pounds lowest form of force neces-
laration aimed at building this solution is not sustain- Customs and Border Pro- of heroin and 2,463 pounds sary to take control of a sit-
border walls, but Trump able,” he said. tection also reported using of fentanyl, mostly through uation, but instances a few
would almost certainly veto While fewer people overall firearms less and less. There ports of entry, according to months ago where tear gas
the measure and the issue are being apprehended were 15 instances where the border security report was used on migrants that
is likely to be settled in the crossing the border illegally officers and agents used from budget year 2018, re- included children drew
courts. each year — about 400,000 firearms during the budget leased Tuesday. Fentanyl strong criticism.q