U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced the construction of a second temporary facility to house the overflow of illegal immigrants pouring across the southwestern U.S. border.
CBP announced late Wednesday that it is building a facility in Donna, Texas, to hold up to 500 people. The building is next to the Donna-Rio Bravo International Bridge.
CBP said the facility will let officials hold people as they await transfer to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for “processing, detention, and/or removal.”
Less than two weeks ago, CBP announced its first “temporary” facility in Tornillo, Texas, which will also hold up to 500 people.
The need for more space is being driven by a new surge in illegal immigration that CBP has been charting for the last few months. The Department of Homeland Security has said border apprehensions are running between 7,000 and 10,000 more per month than usual, and CBP has said it would keep the temporary facilities up until the flow of people falls to normal levels.
In its Wednesday announcement, CBP also indicated again that it could be looking to create even more temporary housing for these immigrants.
“CBP will also regularly assess whether to expand these facilities or keep this temporary facility operational based on the volume of people arriving at or between our Ports of Entry, or crossing the border in the South Texas area,” it said. “CBP is prepared to add housing, beds, toilets, and bathing facilities as necessary.”
In October, the first month of fiscal year 2017, CBP apprehended 46,195 people, the most in October in the last five years, and nearly 10,000 more than in October 2014, which was the year the border surge turned into a crisis.
And total apprehensions in August, September and October were higher this year than they were in any of the last five years.
