The vast majority of the estimated 12,000 migrants at the bridge on Friday were Haitian, said Val Verde County Judge Lewis Owens, who is the county's top elected official whose jurisdiction includes Del Rio. Some families have been under the bridge for as long as six days.
Some migrants built cave-like shelters within the reeds along the river, Owens said. Trash piles were 10 feet wide and at least two women have given birth, including one who tested positive for COVID-19 after being taken to a hospital, he said.
Someone noted the vax rate in Haitians was not because of lack of access. They are superstitious and won't take it. And, they don't trust white peoples medicines.
“Last week, approximately 150 migrants were held under the bridge. As of today, there are more than 8,000, with thousands more reportedly on the way from the interior of Mexico,” Gonzales wrote, only one day before updating the figure to 12,000.
The congressman also warned that border guards are having to help with the chaos in Del Rio instead of patrolling the border. A theme throughout the border crisis has been United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) having to focus more on humanitarian issues and less on security.
“This has created serious vulnerabilities for our national security,” Gonzales wrote, repeating the concerns stated by former CBP Chief Rodney Scott before he left office in