Misinformation circulating on social media led to a significant gathering of migrants at the US-Mexico border in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez. Reports indicate that false claims about the US allowing entry to a large group sparked the gathering, which took place late on Monday. Many of these migrants had reportedly been waiting for weeks to secure appointments through the 'CBP One' mobile app to request asylum in the US. Frustrated by the lack of progress, they decided to try their luck at the border itself.
Around 1,000 individuals congregated near the border, directly opposite the Texas city of El Paso. According to Reuters, some of them peered through gaps in the border wall, while others sat alongside an industrial train line that led to the US.
Officers from Customs and Border Protection were observed installing razor wire across the railway gate, underscoring the heightened security measures.
Under a new policy implemented by the Biden administration, migrants are required to schedule appointments to seek permission to approach the US border. Crossing unlawfully carries the risk of increased barriers for asylum seekers and expedited deportation. Migrants who do not utilize the CBP One app for claiming asylum face additional hurdles, especially if they have crossed through another country without seeking refuge there. Those who do not pass the initial screening can face deportation and a five-year ban on entering the US.
A senior official within the Biden administration stated that this policy approach has yielded positive results. Government statistics reportedly show a 69 per cent reduction in the number of migrants caught crossing illegally within a single month. The official stated, "Our goal is to encourage individuals to follow legal avenues. We are observing initial signs of success."
To accommodate the demand, the number of daily appointments available through the CBP One app was raised from 1,250 to 1,450 on June 30.