The irregular crossing of migrants on the southwest border of the United States did not give in in March despite the threat of the implementation of a controversial law that makes the entry of undocumented immigrants into the country through Texas a crime.
The Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP) reported this Friday that 137,480 foreigners were detained last month at ports of entry along the US-Mexico border.
The figure remained almost the same as in February when 140,644 migrants were taken into custody.
The possible implementation of Texas Law SB4, which allows the state to arrest and deport migrants at the border and lends itself to racial profiling, was expected to somewhat stem migration.
The measure was initially scheduled to go into effect on March 5, but a federal lawsuit managed to stop it, sparking a legal battle with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The measure was in force for at least a day, following a ruling by the US Supreme Court, after an Appeals Court had not given its ruling in time.
The validity of the law remains suspended but the threat of its implementation remains latent.
CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement today that CBP “continues to take significant steps to disrupt criminal networks amid unprecedented hemispheric immigration activity.”
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The number of arrests in March was 45 percent lower than in December 2023 when record numbers were recorded, with more than 240,000 arrests.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has continued to expel foreigners to their countries as part of the measures taken after May 2023, when the implementation of Title 42, which allowed hot expulsion, ended.
Since that date and until March 31, 2024, DHS has expelled more than 660,000 aliens, including 102,000 people classified as a family member