Over the past few days, about 500 migrants tried to come into El Paso, Texas seeking asylum. Unfortunately, they were all turned away. This all started because of a rumor.
Groups of migrants crossed the Rio Grande River on Wednesday and Thursday to be turned away.
There were several rumors that were floating around.
- One was that New York City was busing migrants to Canada.
- Two they were told the federal government changed its policies on immigration.
Someone on the Mexican side of the border was spreading the false rumor.
According to Border Patrol, there were migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Colombia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, and El Salvador.
One migrant said:
"We do this out of necessity. We don't want to be a burden. We come to contribute to the country and provide for our families."
A spokesperson for the Board Patrol in El Paso Orlando Marrero-Rubio said:
“They are being informed that we are busing them or putting them in buses and transporting them to Canada and it’s completely false our immigration policy has not changed, coming into the country between the ports of entry is completely illegal and you will be processed accordingly,” said Orlando Marrero-Rubio a spokesperson for the Border Patrol, El Paso Sector.
He added:
“That type of misinformation comes from the criminal organizations where they take advantage of migrants just use them for financial gain.”
Maurico Mata said on Thursday in a park by the river in Juarez, Mexico:
“We were certain it was true and that we would be given priority to go to Canada. But immigration (officers) told us that if we surrendered to them, they would send us back. I turned back because I don’t want to start over after all I suffered in coming here.”
For migrants to officially cross the border, they need to use the CBP One app and then get an appointment. This rule that President Biden established is still in effect.
You can see more details here:
Who do you think started the rumor?