Federal officers at the country’s busiest land port of entry, located on the California-Mexico border, prepared this week for potential major disturbances as the Biden administration grapples with an influx of people illegally crossing the border.
Vehicles and pedestrians traveling back and forth between Tijuana and San Diego on Wednesday saw clouds of smoke and heard loud noises at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Officers were outfitted with helmets, large firearms, less-lethal devices, and shields.
Spokespersons for the federal agency that runs the port, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, told the Washington Examiner on Friday that the commotion was a part of exercises it puts officers through to prepare for emergency situations.
One such example was in 2018, when hundreds of people who had traveled as part of a caravan group from Central America rushed the border nearby. At the time, CBP closed down the entire San Ysidro port of entry while people attempted to pass through unfenced areas nearby, which is manned by Border Patrol agents.
The CBP officials said the training was not prompted by intelligence reports that migrants in Tijuana or anyone in the United States could be planning to attempt to rush the port. More than 60,000 asylum-seekers waiting in Mexico have begun to be allowed into the U.S. at three spots along the border, including San Ysidro, to have their claims decided. But thousands more remain in limbo.
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“We’re aware of how many people are in Mexico awaiting to be processed to come in,” said Aaron Bowker, acting director for CBP’s Office of Field Operations national communications office. “At this time, I can say that we’re not aware of any current threats to our ports of entry.”
CBP said the trainings have occurred at various border crossings in California and Arizona in previous years. Its special response teams go over commands and formations in front of the port and CBP facilities to prevent crowds from getting past them.
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“Our officers are trained, but we need to keep up that skill set, so training throughout the year must occur, so if they should need to go out there, they’re ready, and they know what to do, and their skill set is up,” said Angelica DeCima, chief CBP officer in San Diego.
