Dozens of migrants waiting in the Mexican border city of Tijuana breached the U.S.-Mexico border Monday night as frustration mounts with their situation in Mexico, according to Reuters.
Reuters observed about two dozen migrants, including children, climb a 10-foot fence before dusk and illegally enter the U.S.
{mosads}Many of those climbing the fence were quickly taken into custody by the U.S. Border Patrol, but some hoped that the successful entry into the U.S. would make it easier for them to file asylum claims.
Reuters said it saw roughly two dozen people climb a 10-foot fence in less than an hour. The report said some used a blanket as a rope to pull people over the fence.
While some migrants, after scaling the fence, sought to evade capture by border authorities, others turned themselves in, possibly hoping to file asylum cases.
Those seeking to evade capture would next have to navigate territory heavily guarded by U.S. Border Patrol agents to reach a second, larger barrier to enter into California.
The people attempting entry points to the frustration of those who have arrived in Tijuana, according to Reuters. Attempts to win asylum from the Mexican side of the border can take months to be heard.
The Trump administration has sounded off against the caravans of migrants that have traversed Mexico to reach the border. Many of the migrants are from Central America and say they are seeking to escape drug-fueled violence.
President Trump has ordered thousands of troops to the border and drastically curtailed migrants’ paths to asylum.
“Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!” Trump tweeted last week.
The border crisis has escalated in recent weeks after U.S. border officials fired tear gas into Mexico to prevent a group of migrants from crossing the border. The Department of Homeland Security said the group had been throwing rocks and other materials at border agents.
Trump is also demanding $5 billion in new funding for a border wall from Congress, prompting fears of a partial government shutdown later this month. Democrats have agreed to $1.6 billion in a funding bill for border security.