A massive migrant welcome center in San Diego is closing today, six months after opening, raising concerns in surrounding towns about unvetted migrants potentially heading their way as the border remains open. The mayor of El Cajon, California, expressed worries about the impact of the center's closure. Over 100,000 migrants have crossed the San Diego border in recent months, with many being accommodated at a county shelter that has now run out of funds, leading to potential street congregations.
With Border Patrol anticipating a significant increase in daily drop-offs from 300 to possibly 1,000, the mayor highlighted the pressing issue of where these individuals will go. The lack of clarity on housing solutions for the migrants has raised questions about potential overcrowding on the streets, in homes, or abandoned buildings.
The mayor criticized the county's handling of the migrant crisis, citing past instances of homeless individuals being placed in hotels at high costs, which negatively impacted neighborhoods and security infrastructure. The concern is compounded by the existing homelessness crisis in California, with limited hotel availability exacerbating the situation.
Of particular concern is the rise in Chinese migrants crossing the border, with reports of a significant encampment of Chinese nationals near the border. The mayor expressed unease about the presence of migrants from a country considered a geopolitical rival, emphasizing the potential security risks posed by their congregation in the city.
Noting the preference of Chinese migrants for entering through San Diego due to perceived lower security measures compared to Texas, the mayor highlighted the lack of safeguards in California as a worrying factor. The concentration of Chinese migrants, predominantly young men, in El Cajon has raised alarms about the unknown scale of their presence and the implications for local security.
