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Over 100 migrants break through razor wire, knock down guards as they illegally cross El Paso border in wild scene
A group of over 100 migrants attempting to enter the US illegally rushed a border wall Thursday, breaking through razor wire and knocking over guards in the process.
nypost.com
Over 100 migrants break through razor wire, knock down guards as they illegally cross El Paso border in wild scene
By
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Published March 21, 2024
Updated March 21, 2024, 7:17 p.m. ET
EL PASO, Texas — A group of over 100 migrants attempted to enter the US illegally by rushing a border wall Thursday, breaking through razor wire and knocking over guards in the process.
The Post had earlier witnessed around 600 migrants massed at the international border, as part of a “spring surge” of migrants hoping to gain access to the US.
The Texas National Guard was attempting to organize them into smaller groups, but the situation grew tense after some women and children were separated from adult males by the guardsmen.
Video taken by The Post showed one set of migrants, mostly single men, then rushing the Texas troops.
A group of men with hoodies, gloves and winter jackets could be seen pulling fencing away and dashing through the concertina wire, as a group of five guards stood in a defensive formation to fill the gap.
5 A large group of migrants knocked down National Guard soldiers and rushed a border wall in El Paso, Texas, on March 21, 2024. James Breeden for NY Post
The guardsmen firmly held their rifles and stood their ground in front of the migrants, who heavily outnumbered them.A few put their hands directly on the migrants to keep them back in response to being pushed, as the scene became louder and more chaotic.
In the video, some figures raise their hands in surrender, but seconds later, others scramble through, with some coming through the guards’ legs and knocking them out of the way.
The group then scrambled to the border gate and started to shout at guardsmen on the other side.
5 The migrants broke through a fence with razor wire. James Breeden for NY Post
“We have women and children, we’re hungry,” The Post heard one male migrant scream, even though most children were in another group — one w
hich was being prepared for processing to be let into the country.
“Help, help, help, they’re kids,” one cried.
More members of the Texas National Guard then quickly moved in to secure the area.
“Get the f–k back,” one guard could he heard yelling as he tried to bring order to the situation.
5 The crowd of migrants ran past the Texas National Guard. James Breeden for NY Post
A source told The Post the rowdy group — which had amassed in the area known as Gate 36, located next to the highway in El Paso — was pushed back to Mexico.
However, some members were arrested, and the rest of the people in the group were brought into the US for processing, according to local reports.
Border Patrol agent Orlando Marrero told the local KFOX14 news station, “The migrants that we encountered here today at Gate 36 will be taken to a processing center.”
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin later wrote on X that there had been one arrest for assaulting a soldier. He added that more charges related to destruction of property and assault were likely, citing Border Patrol sources.
5 The migrants ran to another gate and begged the National Guard for help. James Breeden for NY Post
Despite the commotion, the city of El Paso’s migrant dashboard showed 743 people had been released from custody and into the US on Thursday. They were either released on parole or to pursue asylum claims in accordance with President Biden’s current policies.
In recent days, thousands of migrants have once again descended on the city, with the dashboard showing between 2,000 and 2,500 people held in Border Patrol custody nightly.
The spring surge refers to the time when the weather improves and thousands of people from Central and South America are able to make the journey to the southern US border without the nights being too cold or the days too hot.
“The surge today in El Paso is the direct result of the unsustainable chaos President Biden has unleashed on the border,” a spokesperson from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office told The Post Thursday.
5 The Texas National Guard later secured the area. James Breeden for NY Post
The statement continued: “The Texas Military Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety quickly gained control of the situation and are working to repair the damage.
“These illegal immigrants committed crimes in Texas, and the Department of Public Safety is under instruction to arrest every illegal immigrant involved for committing criminal trespass and destruction of property.”
On Tuesday, the state had begun to prepare implementing SB4, a new law to allow state and local authorities to make arrests for illegally entering the country, but an appeals court blocked the measure hours after the US Supreme Court said it would allow it to go into effect.