Migrants cross into Texas, undeterred by razor wire or new asylum rules

29/9/2023 11:31

        For the past several days large groups of migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have been wading across the Rio Grande river near a railroad bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas, undeterred by coils of razor wire laid along the banks.
        
        Reuters witnessed migrants crossing, sometimes dozens at a time and at times with small children, navigating strong currents to then make their way through the sharp wire put up by the Texas national guard. Once on U.S. soil they waited in the hot sun to turn themselves in to U.S. border officials for processing.
        
        Under a new rule put in place this May by the administration of President Joe Biden, migrants who have not sought an appointment to cross at a legal port of entry on a government-run cell phone app known as CBP One can face a higher bar to asylum and potentially swift deportation.
        
        Migrant numbers had initially plummeted after the announcement, but in recent weeks began rising again as thousands of migrants - many fleeing Venezuela - making their way through south and central America began arriving at the border.