Fox News reporter Bill Melugin said Sunday that Customs and Border Patrol agents did not expect a brief lull in the mass border crossings to be a permanent development.
Melugin said that although there had been a precipitous drop in crossings in the days since Title 42 — a Trump-era policy that allowed deportations based on the ongoing public health crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic — agents believe that once focus is diverted elsewhere, the numbers will begin to climb again.
“Illegal crossings in Texas have fallen off a cliff in the last 48 hours since T42 expiration. After a peak of 3,300 on 5/8 in the RGV earlier this week — under 500 in RGV last 24 hours. El Paso big drop too,” Melugin tweeted, attributing the sudden drop to the fact that they were seeing “more enforcement from MX, TX blocking entry, and migrants going to POEs.”
CBP contacts tell me they do not expect this lull to last. They expect numbers to crank back up again – but not to the record setting levels we saw this week of 10,000+ per day.
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) May 14, 2023
“CBP contacts tell me they do not expect this lull to last. They expect numbers to crank back up again — but not to the record setting levels we saw this week of 10,000+ per day,” Melugin continued.
Despite the rapid and dramatic drop in numbers of illegal crossings since Title 42 was allowed to expire, Melugin also reported that an Afghan national who was on the FBI’s terror watch list was among those who did cross the border illegally on Wednesday.
“Per multiple CBP sources, Border Patrol agents in San Diego sector arrested an Afghan national on the FBI’s terror watchlist after he crossed illegally w/ group of migrants near Otay Mesa, CA on Wednesday. I’m told FBI confirmed the match, & is leading investigation,” Melugin tweeted.
I have reached out to CBP for comment, they tell me they will get back to me.
CA Congressman @DarrellIssa represents the area, and tells me his office has confirmed the arrest with their CBP contact. He released the following statement in response. pic.twitter.com/Gs5TIdfFk6— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) May 14, 2023
Melugin went on to share a statement from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) who said, “Biden’s open borders aren’t just a gateway to five million illegals, record human and child trafficking, and the deadliest drug crisis in out history. Biden’s reckless policy is also an open invitation to even the most wanted terrorists in the world to come to America.”