Southern California has become the new epicenter of illegal immigration, according to officials, as the success of Texas’ border security mission Operation Lone Star has pushed human trafficking efforts by Mexican cartels further west.
According to San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, there has been a significant influx of migrants and illegal immigration in San Diego, making it the new epicenter. He expresses his concern over the record-breaking numbers of individuals crossing the border illegally and entering California.
Two weeks ago, Desmond made a similar assertion when the county was inundated with a large number of illegal border crossers who were abandoned on street corners after the closure of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing center by the Biden administration.
Last week, Border Patrol agents in the CBP San Diego Sector apprehended a staggering 2,000 individuals who had crossed the border illegally in just one day. Among them were 206 Chinese nationals, as reported by Desmond.
According to a report by The Center Square, California has seen a significant increase in the number of Chinese nationals illegally entering the United States. In fiscal year 2021, California apprehended 263 Chinese nationals, but by February 2024, this number had skyrocketed to 22,098.
According to FBI Director Christopher Wray and other national security experts, China and the Chinese Communist Party pose significant national security threats to the United States.
According to a report by The Center Square, California has experienced a rise in illegal border crossings and the smuggling of illicit drugs from Mexico. This increase is believed to be a direct result of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s border security mission, Operation Lone Star, which has effectively closed off major illegal crossing points in Texas.
Texas has always been a significant area of interest for scouts and coyotes, who collaborate with cartels to smuggle people and drugs into the United States via specific regions. The state of Texas boasts the longest border with Mexico, spanning a whopping 1,254 miles. In contrast, California, with a mere 137-mile stretch, is divided almost evenly between the CBP El Centro and San Diego sectors.
The San Diego Sector is on track to experience the highest number of illegal entries among all nine CBP southwest border sectors this month, a level not witnessed since the 1990s.
According to Desmond, the San Diego Sector has experienced an astonishing 214,855 apprehensions since October 1. These individuals come from more than 75 different countries worldwide.
In fiscal 2023, California witnessed a significant rise in the number of illegal border crossers. According to an exclusive report by The Center Square, the state recorded over 500,000 instances of illegal border crossing, a notable increase from the previous fiscal year’s figure of nearly 300,000.
According to The Center Square, San Diego Sector agents apprehended 230,941 illegal foreign nationals and reported a staggering 97,520 gotaways along the southwest border in fiscal 2023. This makes San Diego Sector the fifth-highest region in terms of illegal entries.
In fiscal 2023, Arizona reported over 775,000 illegal border crossings, while Texas reported more than 1.9 million.
According to Desmond, Border Patrol agents have been instructed to release a staggering 30,000 illegal border crossers in San Diego County in just the past two months.
According to Desmond, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s approach to immigration enforcement differs from that of Texas. As a result, human smugglers have recognized California, particularly the San Diego border sector, as an easy route for illegal immigration. Desmond compares the Border Patrol to Uber, unintentionally facilitating the entry of migrants into San Diego County, while the County itself acts as a travel agent.
Law enforcement officials have clarified that cartels have long held operational control of the border, with the Sinaloa Cartel specifically controlling access into California and dominating the illicit fentanyl industry. They have noted that when cracking down on cartel-linked crime, the fentanyl seized can be traced back to operations in California. In a recent undercover operation in Polk County, Florida, authorities seized a significant amount of fentanyl that was enough to potentially kill one-third of Florida’s population. The alleged drug traffickers were apprehended in Florida after driving from California, and the illegally imported fentanyl was linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, according to authorities.
According to a report by The Center Square, CBP San Diego Sector officers recently made a startling discovery. In just two weeks, they managed to seize a staggering amount of fentanyl. The quantity was so massive that it had the potential to cause harm to an estimated 54 million individuals. To put this into perspective, it’s enough to wipe out the entire west coast.
San Diego leaders recently urged state and federal authorities to take action in closing the border. Their concerns were highlighted during a news conference held on the Carlsbad beach, where incidents of illegal border crossings involving boats were observed. According to OKC Fox News 25, groups of individuals, appearing to be single military-age men, were seen disembarking from the boats and fleeing into nearby neighborhoods during daylight hours.
According to Desmond, maritime human smuggling has witnessed a staggering 139% surge since 2020. As of now, three to four boats arrive each week, carrying unknown individuals. These individuals are not subjected to any sort of vetting process, leaving authorities clueless about their identities, origins, and destinations.
According to him, the crisis is being facilitated by the policies in California. He pointed out that the state provides free healthcare to illegal immigrants, and the County of San Diego offers free legal defense to those who are in the country illegally, regardless of the crimes they have committed. Additionally, being a sanctuary state means that law enforcement officers are prohibited from collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This means that even if individuals were arrested by the Carlsbad Police Department, they would not be able to hand them over to ICE or Border Patrol.
According to him, there is evidence that other states have significantly increased their border security. This has resulted in a shift in illegal border crossing activity to San Diego.
