Officials have uncovered a disturbing trend in Senegal: so-called “legitimate” travel agencies are now offering all-in-one deals to help migrants illegally enter the United States through its southern border.
These new revelations, brought to light by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official speaking to Fox News, reveal a calculated smuggling operation beginning in Dakar, Senegal’s capital.
The agencies exploit visa-free travel to Europe as a stepping stone, ultimately connecting Senegalese nationals with networks that shepherd them towards the U.S., where they either seek legal entry at ports or illegally cross between them.
The CBP official detailed how these packages guide migrants to the U.S.-Mexico border, giving them the chance to try their luck through the CBP One app, which admits 1,600 individuals daily, or to sneak in with the hope of being temporarily released into the U.S. with a future court date.
This growing business not only sheds light on the sophisticated nature of modern smuggling but also on the broad appeal of the U.S. border, which now attracts people from over 150 countries.
This issue isn’t just a trickle but a flood.
The U.S. has seen an unprecedented surge in migrant encounters, with a record-breaking 242,418 in November alone, as announced by CBP.
Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller has described the situation as a “serious challenge,” pointing out the desperate need for more support from Congress, as requested in their supplemental funding plea.
The problem is compounded by the ballooning backlog in immigration courts, now over three million cases according to recent data from Syracuse University’s TRAC.
Additionally, since October, the Border Patrol has released more than 386,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S. with Notices to Appear, a practice that has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans.
They argue for tighter asylum rules and the reduction of humanitarian parole use, claiming the administration’s policies are too lenient and contribute to the crisis.
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On the other hand, the administration contends that they’re dealing with a crisis that spans the entire hemisphere and calls for more funding and comprehensive immigration reform to address these deep-rooted issues.
The crisis is not merely a U.S. issue but a global one, with the Senegalese travel agencies being just one piece of a vast puzzle.
The magnetic pull of the U.S. continues to draw individuals from all corners of the globe, stressing the system and igniting heated debates.
The administration’s request for $14 billion in border funding is at the center of these debates, with Republicans demanding tighter asylum restrictions and some Democrats urging the Biden administration to resist these demands.
As the year ends, the hope for an immediate resolution fades, with officials indicating no deal until at least January.
This situation vividly illustrates the broader national security risks posed by the current border policies.
The ease with which migrants are funneled through these agencies into the U.S. highlights the extent of the crisis and the urgent need for a strong and immediate response.
https://thefederalistpapers.org/opinion/travel-agencies-african-country-offering-complete-packages-get-us-border
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