Mexicans in border communities are avoiding crossing into the United States legally, scared away by inconveniences and threats related to tougher border enforcement, according to the Reforma newspaper.
Wait times for border crossings have increased during the Trump administration, while increased deportations have left a glut of migrants stuck in Mexican border cities, the report found.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the law enforcement agency in charge of border security, reported that the number of “inadmissibles” — people seeking entry turned away at the border — plummeted in the first three months of the year.
In December, CBP turned away 15,177 people at the border, in line with long-term seasonal trends. That number fell to 10,895 in January, 4,808 in February and 4,407 in March.
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