INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
the busiest port of entry along the US border with Mexico on Sunday and fired tear gas at members of a Central American migrant caravan who
had rushed the fencing that separates the countries.Although the number of people at the border was relatively small, the unrest - with
migrants attempting to climb fences and run through car lanes to reach the United States, and scenes of mothers and children choking on tear
gas - represented a serious escalation of the crisis.What had begun Sunday morning as a migrant protest of the slow pace of the US asylum
claims process devolved into a chaotic scramble in which hundreds made their way to the border hoping to cross onto US soil
To block that from happening, and as some threw rocks and bottles, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers took the rare step of firing
tear gas into Mexico as well as closing all legal vehicle and foot traffic to the San Ysidro border crossing, which US officials say
normally has about 100,000 visitors per day.Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement that the port of entry was
closed "to ensure public safety in response to large numbers of migrants seeking to enter the US illegally."Some of the migrants tried to
breach the border fencing and "sought to harm CBP personnel by throwing projectiles at them," the statement said.Although the majority of
the group approached and gathered at the fence peacefully, Mexico's Interior Ministry said that hundreds tried to cross the border in a
"violent manner." Mexican authorities said they would deport anyone who tried to cross illegally.Before 9 p.m
Eastern time, CBP said the port of entry had reopened.The statement added that during the day, there were "multiple instances of persons
throwing projectiles at CBP personnel" and "multiple confirmed apprehensions" of those who tried to enter the US illegally, as well as "many
additional attempts to cross the border illegally.""There were also assaults against CBP personnel, with multiple US Border Patrol agents
hit by rocks," the statement said.President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to close border crossings to prevent the migrant caravan
from entering the United States
Although members of the caravan have been in Tijuana for several days, this is the first time that a significant group has massed at the
border fence.The prospect that thousands of Central Americans might have to stay for weeks or months before they can apply for asylum in
Mexican border states where drug cartel violence is prevalent has raised concerns about undermining their lawful right to apply for
asylum.The San Ysidro crossing is a large complex with multiple lanes of vehicle and pedestrian access points
In recent days, Mexican authorities and others have worried about the economic effect of the United States closing down such an important
crossing for trade and travelers.Duncan Wood, the director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington said in a statement
that "the closing of the border is a drastic response to a serious incident but it is vital that calm heads prevail.""Closing a border
crossing like [San Ysidro] more than temporarily involves losses of many millions of dollars and severe disruption of commerce and life at
the border," he added.On Sunday night, Sen
Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., tweeted: "I support President Trump's decision to close the border until we can get a handle on the chaos created by
the broken laws governing asylum
We must have money for border security/wall and must change asylum laws."After starting in Honduras and traveling across Mexico, the first
members of the caravan began arriving in Tijuana about two weeks ago
In recent days, the group has grown to more than 8,200, with about 7,400 members in the border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali, according to
Tijuana's mayor declared the situation a humanitarian crisis.The bulk of the group has been camped out at a sports complex across a highway
While a small portion of caravan members were protesting, thousands stayed behind in the sports complex
US border officials have said they have a limited capacity to process asylum seekers, up to 100 per day
Asylum seekers waiting at the border said only 40 per day were being let in on Saturday and Sunday
On Friday, 80 were allowed in.For the past few days, the migrants planned Sunday's protest to express their frustration about the wait and
the conditions where they are living, including painting signs asking Trump to let them in."Desperation has led some people to really
believe that crossing is possible," said Alex Almendares, 22, a member of the caravan from Colon, Honduras
"The US has given us no response, and the situation at the shelter keeps getting worse."On Sunday morning, the protest march headed toward
one of the pedestrian crossings
Mexican police in riot gear blocked their way, and a scuffle broke out between police and a couple of dozen protesters
After the protesters were rebuffed, the situation grew more chaotic, with some migrants running across a dry canal and others trying to
cross in different places.US authorities fired tear gas that wafted into Mexico and caused migrants to run from the fumes
No serious injuries were immediately reported.As federal law enforcement officers, Border Patrol agents have broad latitude to use force if
they think they are under attack or at risk of injury
An agent in Arizona who fired his service weapon through the border fence in response to rock throwers, killing a 16-year-old boy, was
acquitted Wednesday on charges of involuntary manslaughter.Maria Louisa Caceres, 42, and her son followed people who were running toward the
fence."We thought it was a peaceful march today, but then I saw everyone running and I thought, 'This is it, God will touch Trump's heart,'
" she said.Caceres, a tortilla vendor from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, said she had fled her hometown and joined the caravan after gang
members killed two of her brothers and burned down her house
She said she wants asylum in the United States, but really just "wants life to get better now."Standing by the fence, when she realized
there was no way to cross the border, she said she did not know what would happen next
"Now we wait," she added.Elizabeth Chirinos, 37, said she had followed others who were running toward the border because she felt
desperate."The US isn't letting us through and I can't live in those conditions in the shelter," she said
"I want to go to the US and not stay in Mexico, because there are more opportunities."Standing back from the group by the fence, Almendares
said that migrants protesting at the border will not help their cause."It just gets people mad at us, and I want asylum," he said.(Except
for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
