A gathering of more than a dozen Republican governors at the Texas border on Sunday found Kyle Willis in Mexico, contemplating his next steps to enter the U.S.
The 23-year-old Jamaican, citing attacks and discrimination based on his sexuality in his home country, found himself part of the historic wave of migrants attempting to cross the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass. Despite spending hours soaked in the river, Willis failed to convince Texas National Guard soldiers behind a razor wire fence to allow him through and ultimately retreated to a shelter in Piedras Negras.
Willis’ experience marked a potential win for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who returned to Eagle Pass on Sunday with GOP governors supporting his stand-off with President Joe Biden’s administration over immigration enforcement. However, declines in crossings are attributed to a complex array of factors along the U.S. border, including heightened enforcement in Mexico, and migrants seeking alternative crossing points.
Meanwhile, the border issue took center stage in Washington, where senators rushed to unveil a highly-anticipated bill combining border enforcement policies with wartime aid for Ukraine.
Abbott pledged to continue expanding operations along the Texas border but did not specify details. Texas has restricted U.S. Border Patrol’s access to an area along the river known as Shelby Park for nearly a month, accusing the Biden administration of lax enforcement.
The record number of border crossings poses a political challenge for President Biden and is a key issue Republicans are keen to highlight in an election year. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis committed to sending more National Guard troops to Texas, with other governors considering similar deployments.
Abbott, accompanied by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, underscored the gravity of the situation at Eagle Pass, where Texas has been in a standoff with the Biden administration over access to Shelby Park.
Crossings have declined in recent weeks along the entire U.S. border, including areas with less stringent security. Tucson, Arizona, a particularly busy area, reported a 29% decrease in arrests compared to its peak in December.
In a call with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Biden expressed appreciation for Mexico’s efforts to deter irregular migration. However, the Mexican immigration agency reported rescuing 71 immigrants, including 22 minors, stranded on sandbars of the Rio Grande between Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras. Tragically, they also recovered three bodies of migrants who perished attempting the crossing.
Facing mounting pressure, Biden has advocated for asylum restrictions, a shift reminiscent of former President Donald Trump’s policies. Immigration concerns remain prominent among voters, with a recent poll indicating increased apprehension compared to the previous year.
The arrival of GOP governors in Eagle Pass caps off a weekend of attention for the small border city, where hundreds protested Biden’s immigration policies during a “Take Back Our Border” rally. The number of crossings has dwindled in Eagle Pass, prompting Texas to restrict access to federal agents at Shelby Park, previously considered a magnet for migrants.
Mexico has intensified immigration efforts, deploying additional checkpoints and deporting migrants, while some have opted to cross the river despite the risks, driven by various factors including adverse weather conditions and increased river flow.
___ Associated Press reporters Maria Verza in Mexico City and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.
