San Diego City Wire

Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones visited the California-Mexico border to address the ongoing crisis affecting San Diego County and the nation. He was accompanied by San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson and a representative from Senator Catherine Blakespear's office. The visit highlighted concerns over public safety and terrorism related to what has been described as an "open border."

Leader Jones stated, “While the border and migrant crisis is inherently a federal issue, my constituents in San Diego County are paying the price of the federal government’s failure to address the situation.” He praised Border Patrol agents for their efforts but criticized the lack of a coordinated strategy for processing incoming migrants.

During his tour, Jones observed strained resources, security challenges, and infrastructure projects at the border. He emphasized that local governments like San Diego are forced to divert resources from critical programs due to this crisis. "The situation at the border is dangerous and unsustainable," he said, calling for comprehensive immigration reform.

According to U.S. Customs & Border Patrol Agency data, up to 1,200 asylum seekers arrive daily in San Diego, with over 230,000 migrants crossing this year alone. Most were released with minimal security checks. There has been an increase in migrants from China, Africa, and the Middle East. Border Patrol expressed national security concerns regarding these demographic shifts.

San Diego Border Patrol also warned of potential threats following recent conflicts involving Hamas and other groups in Israel. They noted that logos of such organizations have been observed among those attempting entry through the Southwest border.

Between September and November 2023, Customs and Border Protection released 42,000 migrants into San Diego County. This trend is expected to continue as there is no anticipated decrease in numbers soon.