US Customs and Border Protection confirmed with Fox News Digital that it does not operate “softside” facilities following the closure of an immigration processing center near San Diego in March.
The Biden administration used facilities to handle immigrants who entered illegally at multiple sites in California, Texas and Arizona amid the surge of millions across the border.
“Because of the unprecedented decline in unlawful foreign fears as a result of the President’s recent enforcement actions, CBP does not operate temporary softside processing facilities where illegal aliens are held at certain locations along the southwest border.
CBP said uncertainty at the southern border fell more than 90% in April from the previous year
Aerial view of the Otaymesa facility in January 2023 (Customs and Border Protection Civil Service).
“The US Border Patrol has full capacity to manage the detention of aliens arrested at a permanent USBP facility. Personnel and other resources specialized in temporary processing facilities will be directed towards other priorities and will speed up the development of CBPs to gain operational control of the Southwest border,” the spokesman said.
On March 13, CBP said it was closing three Texas and two Arizona facilities, but California and one Texas location were still open.
In March, Fox News Digital reported that CBP had closed its Otay Mesa facility, which was launched in January 2023 due to the intensifying border crisis.
Border intersections held back records in March thanks to agents’ “vigilance” work: Report
US Border Patrol agents sit on a truck on the road outside the farm gate near Carrizzo Springs, Texas. (Eddie Seal/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector posted a video to X on Sunday, indicating that the sector’s softside facilities have been decommissioned.
“The world has heard the message from President Trump and Secretary Noem. The US borders are closed to law violations,” Homeland Security posted in a clip.
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According to CBP, the facility costs between $5 million and $30 million per month.
Since President Donald Trump took office, the CBP-marked southern border intersection has collapsed. In April, there were over 8,300 “concerns.” This is a 93% drop from the previous year, the agency said.
CBP released across the border in March, the lowest mark ever recorded
US Marine Army Patrol, Welding, Welding, Tijuana, USA – Concertwires along the border area of Tijuana and San Diego Beach are found in the Department of Defense deploying Active Duti troops, working with the US Border Patrol and surrounded by border patrols and boundary walls, as seen from Playa de Tijuana in Baja California, Mexico. Getty Images) (Carlos Moreno/Anadoll by Getty Images)
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“For the first time in years, more agents have returned to the field. Patrol areas where CBP had no bandwidth or talent to oversee just six months ago,” CBP’s representative said on May 12.
Cameron Arcand is a political writer for Fox News Digital at Washington DC.
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