Representatives from the Mexican National Institute of Migration inform thousands of migrants to stay out of the Rio Grande waters this Monday. Many arrived from Central and South America with the aim of reaching the United States by asking for asylum from the border authorities.
Families waiting in makeshift camps along the riverbank endure weeks of uncertainty. They seek faster access to U.S. territory and relief from the lengthy waits in Mexico. A Venezuelan migrant who declined to give his surname for safety reasons told EFE that the situation inside Mexico was intolerable, adding that harassment had become a daily challenge and that they simply want a chance to cross into the United States.
Asylum seekers have criticized the CBP One registration app, introduced by the Biden administration to process requests for lawful entry, claiming continued flaws. They also described incidents of intimidation and violence, including the alleged arson of tents by armed civilians in the vicinity of the border.
failed attempt
On Monday, INM officers arrived near the Rio Grande to urge migrants to leave the water and move away from the shore. Some attempted to use air mattresses as a flotation aid to reduce the risk of drowning, but this method also exposed them to the dangers of currents and swift water. The effort has sadly resulted in fatalities among migrants in past episodes.
The National Guard was deployed to disperse groups pursuing entry into the United States with minimal friction. Yet reports emerged of perceived injustices experienced by migrants along the border. A Venezuelan mother, who asked not to be named, told EFE that she and her child faced daily hardship, including lack of food and shelter as they waited for a resolution to their situation.
Minutes after authorities closed the gate, large numbers of people, including children, descended from the riverbank toward the water. An INM officer intervened, but the crowd overwhelmed the initial checkpoints and continued toward the river barrier.
hundreds of crosses
The U.S. Border Patrol reported on its official channels that about 1,600 migrants were apprehended in the past 24 hours in the South Texas corridor where the Rio Grande runs between Matamoros and Brownsville. Migrants have been observed using multiple air mattresses to transport small groups, often with children, increasing the risk of drowning given that many cannot swim and the river remains hazardous in certain sections.
As crossings resumed, Mexican authorities limited their actions to monitoring from the river’s edge rather than actively blocking the passage, watching the continuous flow throughout Monday afternoon. Authorities estimate that thousands remain in Matamoros, hoping for a legal path into the United States through official channels or via the river crossing, including growing numbers from Asia in addition to the long-standing presence of migrants from the Americas. Jumping into the river has become a familiar scene since late 2022, with U.S. agents across the water ready to intervene when needed.