The arrival of a migrant caravan from Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing and the rush of people trying to enter the US has forced the Border Police to take strong measures. They resorted to firing tear gas to deter the migrants who attempted to climb fences and use the car lanes. The caravan crowd pelted the CBP personnel with rocks and bottles and tear gas was an unexpected development. It led to a chaotic situation with women and children choking on the gas. These persons were in Tijuana for several days, and have now gathered at the border fence in a desperate attempt to enter America.

New Zealand Herald reports the US-Mexico border crossing at San Ysidro handles around 100,000 visitors per day. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen clarified that closure of this entry point was necessary "to ensure public safety in response to large numbers of migrants seeking to enter the US illegally."

It is a humanitarian crisis

In the opinion of the mayor of Tijuana, this as a humanitarian crisis. The caravan migrants began their journey in Honduras and traveled across Mexico to arrive in Tijuana about two weeks ago. The numbers kept swelling to more than 8,000. The US border officials have limitations. Their capacity is limited and the list is a long one. Hence, delays will be there and the migrants decided to express their frustration and highlight the conditions in which they were living.

The border crossing at San Ysidro is a large complex.

There are multiple lanes of vehicles apart from pedestrian access points. Duncan Wood, an official in Washington, has expressed concerns about the closure of the border. He sees it as “a drastic response to a serious incident.” Authorities in Mexico are worried about the economic fallout of such an action because it will have an effect on trade and tourism.

US takes a tough stand on caravan migrants

According to CNN, US Border Patrol agents resorted to firing tear gas at a group of migrants who tried to rush the border from the Mexican side. It seems a huge crowd of migrants, including families with young children, rushed towards police blockades near the San Ysidro Port of Entry. They threw projectiles and the US authorities reacted by using tear gas to disperse them and ensure the safety of their personnel.

President Donald Trump has threatened to close the US-Mexico border to migrants while the mayor of Tijuana has called on the Mexican government and the international community for help. The mayor is worried because residents of the city have close contact with the US and go there every day for work or for studies and closure of the border will affect them.
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