The CBP's Tucson Sector won't be updating its social media profiles with the latest news about the ongoing migrant crisis, according to the National Pulse. "In light of the ongoing migrant surge, all Tucson Sector Border Patrol social media accounts will be paused until further notice," CBP Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin announced on Nov. 26. "We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this challenging time."
However, not everyone agreed with the move, with several alleging that federal authorities may be attempting to downplay the full extent of the migrant crisis. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin was among them.
"Just days [after] Border Patrol's Tucson sector reported having 15,300 illegal crossings, … [the sector] says it's pausing its social media until further notice due to 'ongoing migration surge,'" he said. "Regardless of the reasoning behind this, this is such a bad look."
Melugin also noted that the media makes use of data and photographs uploaded to the CBP Tucson Sector's account regularly. "Essentially, the border crisis in the sector is so bad that they're going to cut off all communication and transparency with the public. It's unacceptable," he remarked.
According to Breitbart, the Tucson sector "is currently the busiest along the southwest border for migrant apprehensions." Agents within the sector apprehended 373,625 border crossers, as per data from CBP reports.
CBP now PROCESSING MIGRANTS instead of guarding border
A source within CBP disclosed to Breitbart that the agency's priority has shifted from preventing migrants from entering unlawfully to processing them. According to the source, agents in the Tucson sector "have been exclusively relegated to processing and caring for the wave of migrants crossing into the sector in recent days."
"Facing overcrowding at migrant processing facilities in the sector, the source says most non-essential details have been eliminated to re-direct all Border Patrol agents to the task of accommodating the overwhelming number of migrants in custody," the news outlet said, citing the insider.
According to the CBP source, more than 5,000 migrants are being detained at facilities within the Tucson sector. They added that hundreds of others are still held at field rally points, awaiting transport to area processing centers.
This wasn't the first time the Tucson sector downsized operations during periods when migrant crossing surge. In those instances, CBP has reduced or eliminated field patrols and closed checkpoints – with agents being redirected to assist with migrant care and processing duties.
In September, Breitbart noted that several highway inspection checkpoints were closed. At the time, migrant apprehensions exceeded 50,000. But according to the source, canceling field patrols and checkpoint operations puts national security at risk. (Related: IT'S BASIC MATH: Border Patrol agents link 575% increase in seizures of smuggling vehicles to surge in U.S. border crossings.)
"We have no idea how many migrants who have criminal records or intend to harm American citizens are going to escape across the border while we focus on processing," the source said. "The cartels will definitely take advantage of the opportunity to move narcotics across the border, or on our open highways."
Breitbart also recounted a September visit to the Tucson sector, observing the large migrant groups crossing into the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument "by the hundreds." The groups marched from the border fence to a rallying point more than a mile away to surrender to awaiting Border Patrol agents.
"The migrants then await transport to nearby facilities for processing. Most of those surrendering to the Border Patrol are ultimately released to pursue asylum claims in the U.S., reports reveal."
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Watch this One America News report about CBP closing border checkpoints due to the surge of migrants.
This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.
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