In a move emblematic of the deepening immigration crisis under the Biden administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the indefinite closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry in Arizona.
This drastic step, taken to redeploy agents to address the surge in illegal border crossings, signals an alarming shift in priorities at the nation’s borders.
The closure, effective from December 4, halts all pedestrian and vehicle traffic through this entry point, as stated by CBP: “CBP’s Office of Field Operations will temporarily suspend operations in Lukeville, Arizona, in order to redirect personnel to assist the U.S. Border Patrol with taking migrants into custody.”
This decision reflects the agency’s struggle to manage the influx of illegal immigrants, which has escalated since President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
CBP attributes the surge to misleading information disseminated by smugglers, exploiting vulnerable individuals.
The agency emphasized its commitment to border security, even as it reallocates resources to process migrants more swiftly and safely.
This development is a direct consequence of the Biden administration’s policies, which have been criticized for loosening border protections and inadvertently encouraging mass human trafficking by drug cartels.
The statistics are stark: since Biden assumed office, CBP has apprehended over 5.8 million illegal entrants from 160 countries.
This unprecedented number of crossings has not only burdened border patrol agents but has also extended the impact to cities far from the border, including New York.
October saw about 309,000 illegal crossings, marking it as the second highest month in the history of such encounters.
Nolan Rappaport, a former House immigration expert, critiqued the current administration in an OpEd for The Hill.
He pointed out the Biden administration’s approach of bypassing standard immigrant and nonimmigrant visa provisions in favor of a catch-and-release policy for most illegal crossers apprehended by the Border Patrol.
This policy, Rappaport argues, has only incentivized the cartels to push more illegal immigrants towards the southern U.S. border with Mexico.
In essence, the closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry is a grim testament to the escalating crisis at the U.S. border.
It exemplifies the challenges faced by border patrol agents and highlights the broader implications of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, both criticized and defended in various circles.
