Tijuana Mayor Declares Crisis At Border; DHS Warns Of Criminals, Gang Members Among Caravan…(5…)
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
Fri, 11/23/2018
The mayor of Tijuana declared an international humanitarian crisis on Thursday following the arrival of more than 6,200 mostly Central American migrants – with more on the way.
During a press conference, Mayor Juan Manuel Gastélum called on the United Nations and other international groups to step in and assist with the massive influx of migrants, reports AZ Central. Up to 10,000 migrants could eventually end up in Tijuana, according to the federal government.
For now, the majority of caravan members who have arrived in Tijuana are camped out on a dirt baseball field at an outdoor sports arena and underneath bleachers. The city opened the complex after their other shelters reached capacity, while church groups have chipped in to provide portable showers, bathrooms and sinks. Local businesses, meanwhile, have complained of migrants panhandling and stealing.
“They have categorically omitted and not complied with their legal obligations,” said Gastélum of aid organizations, adding “So we’re now asking them and international humanitarian aid groups to bring in and carry out humanitarian assistance.”
The municipal government estimated it has spent nearly $27,000 daily to house and care for the nearly 4,700 migrants currently in the city. They are housed mostly in the Unidad Deportiva Benito Juarez, a sport complex converted into a makeshift shelter, but well over capacity since the start of the week. -AZ Central
“I will not compromise public services,” Gastelum told reporters while speaking from city hall. “I will not spend Tijuanans’ money, I will not bring Tijuana into debt now, in the same way we haven’t done so these past two years.”
Gastélum has drawn both criticism and support in recent days over his strict approach to the migrant caravan. He was spotted last week wearing a red hat that reads “Make Tijuana Great Again,” while Tijuana locals have been slinging insults – and rocks – at the migrants.
Meanwhile, a small group of around 500 of the migrants “slowly and peacefully pushed within 500 feet of the US border” on Thursday, pressing against armed Mexican federal police near the US-Mexico pedestrian crossing, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.
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