Hundreds of migrants have taken to sleeping at the San Diego airport for days after being processed by border patrol. Consequently, the San Diego International Airport has become overrun with migrants waiting for flights out of the area.
Immigrants sleeping overnight at the airport a day before their flight is common. However, they have been showing up days in advance recently. Hence, local organizations report the number of people sleeping there has increased significantly in recent weeks.
The federal immigration authorities have released at least 40,000 illegals into the San Diego area in the last two months. Consequently, this leads to the airport overflowing with migrants.
Roni Elias, a volunteer with the We All We Got Aid organization, said that they have had to increase the number of aid packages they deliver to the airport. She said, “We would initially make just about 50 sandwiches, 50 meal packs for people. But then, we realized that was not enough.” “Last week, I counted 308 people sleeping over,” Elais added.
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According to reports, most of those staying at the airport overnight are there to continue their journey to friends and family in cities across the U.S. However, many arrive at the airport several hours and sometimes a few days before their scheduled flights. “Our biggest concern is all the children that are there and the vulnerable populations that are sleeping there,” Elias said.
Similarly, another volunteer with the organization, Krystle Johnson, also spoke to the San Diego Union-Tribune. She insisted the problem is growing.
“It’s grown exponentially, and we’re not totally sure why,” Johnson told the San Diego Union-Tribune. She also said the airport is “almost becoming a second (migrant welcome) center because there are so many people there.”
In a statement to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the airport said, “Since late last year, San Diego International Airport has experienced a significant increase in the number of migrants using the airport to proceed to their next destination.” It continued, “We have and will continue coordinating with migrant-serving volunteer groups and nonprofit organizations as they help their clients navigate the airport.”
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SBCS, the nonprofit that manages the San Diego Welcome Center, claimed that they don’t bus migrants to the airport unless they prove they have a flight booked. However, the number of illegals flooding the airport causes some to discount that claim.
According to the Daily Mail, the US Customs and Border Encounters recorded a 67.3 percent increase in migrants from last year. Also, the Biden administration released hundreds of immigrants into the border city due to overcrowding in the Border Patrol facilities. Consequently, the migrants utilize the airport to travel to other sanctuary cities such as Chicago and New York.
While the number of migrants sleeping on the San Diego Airport floor increases, residents continue to worry. However, organizations are brainstorming ways to make the process more efficient and seamless for migrants. They are devising plans so migrants no longer have overnight stays at the airport as they await their respective flights.
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