Amidst the unprecedented influx of migrants at Arizona’s southern border, two African migrants conveyed their appreciation for President Joe Biden, reflecting the hopes of many for a new life in the United States.
Speaking to Fox News in Lukeville, Arizona, one migrant shared a heartfelt message: “I love you Joe Biden, thank you for everything, Joe Biden!” He expressed his desire to contribute positively to American society, saying, “I’m a good person, I want to be good person here in the United States.”
These individuals, part of the thousands seeking better lives, are not asylum seekers; their goals are employment and the opportunities that the U.S. promises. “I came here because I want [a] quality life, America is a land of opportunity,” stated another migrant, who also hails from Africa.
New York City, their intended destination, has already welcomed over 140,000 migrants since the previous year, leading to significant budget adjustments to address the ongoing influx.
The Tucson Sector in Arizona has been particularly strained, with nearly 3,000 daily encounters and a record-breaking 17,500 encounters in a single week. Migrants, many from African nations such as Senegal, Guinea, Mauritania, and Egypt, as well as from the Middle East and Asia, await processing at the border, hoping for entry into the U.S.
One migrant recounted paying a hefty $10,000 to a smuggler for passage from Mauritania through Colombia. Another from Guinea shared aspirations of reaching New York City upon release into the country.
In response to the surge, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has increased its resources and personnel in the Tucson Sector, historically less active than others like the Rio Grande Valley. Strategies include transferring migrants to different border areas and implementing expedited removal procedures to manage the situation more effectively.
The ongoing migrant crisis, which began escalating in 2021, has had widespread repercussions, affecting major cities such as New York City and Chicago. With over 2.4 million encounters in FY 23, records continue to be set for monthly migrant encounters at the southern border.
As the crisis persists, Washington D.C. grapples with an emergency funding request that includes $14 billion for border operations. The debate intensifies as Republicans push for stringent asylum and parole restrictions, proposals met with resistance from some Democrats.