I wanted to update you on the immigration crisis, which continues to overwhelm our Border Patrol agents and cause a major strain on our local resources.
Earlier this week, I visited the border and migrant encampments in Jacumba. The chaos continues with dozens of people camped out, waiting for Border Patrol to take them to a resource center, paid for by county taxpayers.
While I was there, I saw a suburban speed towards the fence on the Mexico side, drop off about a dozen people, and rush away. The migrants then walked through an opening and entered the United States. Check out the video below and see our broken immigration system in real-time.
Equally disturbing was coming across an abandoned campsite filled with tents, food, drinks, and campfires. The area has become a temporary holding site before migrants are then processed into our country.
We have never seen anything like this at our border before, and our federal government is nowhere to be found. Over 68,000 migrants have entered our County in the past three months.
In December alone, there were over 276,000 migrant encounters nationwide at the southern border, marking the highest single month ever recorded. Since October 1st, Border Patrol has logged over 760,000 migrant encounters across the southern border, and in November, 17 individuals on the FBI’s terror watchlist were arrested at the Southern Border.
The County of San Diego is now expending over $1 million per month on migrant services from local tax dollars earmarked for housing and homelessness. While I’m opposed to allocating local tax dollars, the situation is only getting worse. If you oppose our current border policy, I encourage you to contact your federal representatives and voice your concerns.
With the chaos continuing, I’m highly displeased to see the State roll out a program incentivizing more people to enter the country illegally. Beginning January 1st, the State of California is giving free healthcare to undocumented immigrants.
Against numerous challenges in California with a staggering homeless population, the highest gas prices in the country, exorbitant utility costs, crumbling infrastructure, while facing a $68 billion budget deficit, the decision for free health insurance to undocumented immigrants paid for with taxpayer dollars is unfathomable.
Our local resources are meant to address our community’s needs, not fund services for those who have just entered our country. If the State of California had any common sense, it would halt the free health insurance program for undocumented immigrants and refocus on the pressing needs of Californians. It is time to prioritize our residents first.
If you disagree with this program, please get in touch with your local State representatives and let them know how you feel. We must all use our voices and stay engaged in local politics.
I will continue to keep you updated on the situation.
San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond
https://www.
