Southern California has become the new epicenter of illegal immigration, according to officials, as the success of Texas’ border security mission Operation Lone Star has pushed human trafficking efforts by Mexican cartels further west.
According to San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, San Diego has become the new hub for migrants and illegal immigration. He expresses his concern as the state witnesses a surge in the number of illegal border crossers entering California.
Two weeks ago, Desmond made a similar claim when the county experienced an overwhelming influx of thousands of illegal border crossers. These individuals were being dropped off on street corners after the closure of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing center by the Biden administration.
Last week, Border Patrol agents in the CBP San Diego Sector apprehended 2,000 individuals who had illegally crossed the border, according to Desmond. Among them were 206 Chinese nationals.
According to a report by The Center Square, California has witnessed a significant influx of Chinese nationals illegally entering the United States. The number of apprehensions of Chinese immigrants in California has risen dramatically, from 263 in fiscal year 2021 to a staggering 22,098 by February 2024.
According to national security experts, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, China and the Chinese Communist Party pose one of the most significant threats to the national security of the United States.
An increase in illegal border crossings and the smuggling of illicit drugs into California has been observed. This surge is primarily attributed to the implementation of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s border security mission, Operation Lone Star, which has effectively closed off major illegal crossing points in Texas. (The Center Square)
Texas has always been a significant area of interest for individuals involved in smuggling activities, whether it be human trafficking or drug smuggling. With a border that spans 1,254 miles, Texas has the longest border with Mexico. In comparison, California has a much smaller portion of the border, stretching only 137 miles. This stretch is divided almost equally between the CBP El Centro and San Diego sectors.
The San Diego Sector is poised to surpass all other CBP southwest border sectors this month in terms of the highest number of illegal entries, despite having a significantly shorter border distance. These numbers haven’t been seen since the 1990s.
According to Desmond, the San Diego Sector has experienced a remarkable 214,855 apprehensions since October 1. These individuals come from more than 75 countries worldwide.
According to a report by The Center Square, the number of illegal border crossers in California increased to over 500,000 in fiscal 2023. This represents a significant rise from the previous year’s figure of nearly 300,000 in fiscal 2022.
In fiscal 2023, agents from the San Diego Sector reported apprehending 230,941 illegal foreign nationals along the southwest border, making it the fifth-highest number of illegal entries. Additionally, they reported at least 97,520 individuals who managed to escape, as highlighted by The Center Square.
In fiscal 2023, the number of people reported illegally crossing the border into Arizona was over 775,000, while in Texas, it surpassed 1.9 million.
In the past two months, Border Patrol agents have been instructed to release a staggering number of 30,000 individuals who illegally crossed the border in San Diego County, according to Desmond.
According to Desmond, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s approach to immigration differs from that of Texas. As a result, human smugglers have targeted California, specifically the San Diego border sector, as the easiest route for illegal immigration. Desmond compares the Border Patrol to Uber, unintentionally facilitating the entry of migrants into San Diego County, with the county itself acting as the travel agent.
According to law enforcement officials, cartels have maintained operational control of the border for a long time. Specifically, the Sinaloa Cartel has taken charge of access into California and has established dominance in the illicit fentanyl industry. It has been revealed that when authorities crack down on cartel-related crimes, they can trace the seized fentanyl back to operations in California. A recent undercover operation in Polk County, Florida resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of fentanyl, enough to potentially kill one-third of Florida’s population. The individuals involved in the alleged drug trafficking were apprehended in Florida after driving from California. Authorities have linked the illegally imported fentanyl to the Sinaloa Cartel, which operates in Mexico.
In just two weeks, officers from CBP San Diego Sector made a staggering seizure of fentanyl. The amount confiscated was enough to cause the deaths of a staggering 54 million individuals. To put this into perspective, it is sufficient to wipe out the entire west coast. This alarming report was highlighted by The Center Square.
Earlier this month, leaders in San Diego urged state and federal authorities to take action and close the border. They held a press conference on the beach in Carlsbad, close to the area where individuals attempting to cross the border illegally were using boats to access the shore. According to a report by OKC Fox News 25, groups of men who appeared to be of military age would quickly disembark from these boats and run into nearby neighborhoods during daylight hours.
According to Desmond, there has been a significant surge in maritime human smuggling since 2020, with a staggering 139% increase. On average, three to four boats arrive each week, and shockingly, none of the individuals on board are vetted. This means that authorities have no information about their identities, origins, or intended destinations.
According to him, the crisis is being facilitated by California policies. He pointed out that the state provides free healthcare to illegal immigrants and the County of San Diego offers free legal defense to those who are here illegally, regardless of the crimes they commit. Additionally, being a sanctuary state means that law enforcement officers are prohibited from collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This means that even if individuals were arrested by the Carlsbad Police Department, they would not be able to hand them over to ICE or Border Patrol.
According to him, it is evident that other states have significantly increased their border security measures. This has resulted in a shift of illegal border crossing activity towards San Diego.