Mexico declared that it will work more closely with Customs and Border Protection to ease the flow of illegal migrants from Central and South American countries. CBP said it encountered 232,972 people at the border last month, up from 183,494 in July and 204,087 in Aug. of 2022.
So far this month, Mexico's National Migration Institute said authorities have encountered 189,000 people.
The commissioner of the institute, INM, met with CBP, the governor of the state of Chihuahua, and the head of Mexico's largest railroad, Ferromex. The National Migration Institute states that they agreed on 15 points to deter migrants.
Among the points they discussed was CBP offering "all technical assistance," to deal with migrants at ports of entry. INM discussed how to stop illegal crossings while also ensuring those crossing legally could do so.
INM will now take people expelled at the border into custody and also negotiate with countries including Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela "to receive their compatriots."
INM mentioned that they will also start working with the railroad, Ferromex, to stop people from jumping on trains headed to the border. The organization said it will have a coordinator who will work with Ferromex to deter people from hopping on trains. On top of that, INM would also "locate strategic points for rescue and deterrence," along train routes where trains could be stopped and people removed.
INM said it would also work with Mexico's national guard and state police to return people to their countries of origin.
The mayor of El Paso says the city has reached a "breaking point," with about twice as many migrants arriving each day in Sept. as in Aug. During a press conference Saturday, Mayor Oscar Leeser said about 2,000 people had come to the border seeking asylum Friday; he said CBP had encountered 6,500 people.
"The facilities cannot handle those types of numbers," Leeser said.
During the event, a deputy city manager said El Paso would open an overflow shelter. Monday, the El Paso City Council voted unanimously to use federal funds to buy a vacant middle school from El Paso Independent School District to use as a shelter.
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