A massive group of around 1,000 migrants were caught on camera attempting to rush the U.S. southern border from Mexico on Sunday afternoon.
The migrants rushed the Paso Del Norte bridge linking Mexico to the U.S. in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday, to gain access into the United States, video shows.
Crowd control measures were used when the group of mainly Venezuelan migrants continued to press forward, though according to sources at the border, the efforts were thwarted
Videos show migrants of all ages pressing toward the fenced border, with some putting their hands in the air to encourage others to continue moving forward.
Another video shows the moment the migrants pushed onto the bridge and began running for freedom, with a sign above the read, “Feliz Viaje,” or, happy travels.
In a third video, migrants were seen gathering on a smaller bridge, while others were observed lining up along the riverbank
Customs and Border Protection increased manpower in the area on the U.S. side, while the Mexican military attempted to contain the incident on the southern side of the bridge.
Cameras on the bridge that were setup to stream showed an intense build up at the border, with several CBP agents lined up behind a barricade and razor wire
CBP officers say they ‘implemented port hardening measures’ including the use of barbed wire fencing and concrete barricades, by temporarily preventing northbound traffic at the Paso Del Norte Bridge.
CBP officials say the large group approached the international line ‘posing a threat to make mass entry.‘ .
There were more than 2.3 million migrant encounters in FY 2022, and FY 2023 has been on pace to top those record numbers.
Republicans have blamed the Biden administration on the increase in encounters after rolling back Trump-era policies like the Remain-in-Mexico policy, ending wall construction and narrowing interior ICE enforcement as reasons for the crisis.
The Biden administration has pushed back on those accusations and have accused Republicans of failing to vote for more border funding and not supporting a sweeping immigration reform proposal introduced on day one of the administration.
In his State of the Union address, President Biden again appealed for Republicans to pass parts of the bill, but lawmakers have balked at the inclusion of a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, which Democrats have indicated is a must.
