California Mayor Sounds the Alarm as Migrants Hit 25-Year High

A California mayor says a record number of border encounters in his county is further proof of an unprecedented lack of federal enforcement.

El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells told Newsweek via phone that in April the San Diego County sector surpassed all other sectors in border encounters for the first time in 25 years. San Diego experienced 37,370 encounters, surpassing Tucson (31,240), El Paso (30,410) and Del Rio (10,275).

"We've become the No. 1 sector in America for crossing the border," Wells said, warning about a humanitarian crisis confounded by security risks for locals and the nation.

Newsweek reached out to U.S. Border Patrol via email for comment.

The El Cajon Station, responsible for roughly 10 miles of international border with Mexico, is 18 miles northeast of San Diego sector headquarters.

The region is responsible for about 467 square miles of inland terrain immediately north of the international boundary, which includes the rural border communities of Tecate, Potrero, Canyon City and Campo.

"It is completely beyond my comprehension that something like this could have happened in America," Wells said. "Look, there's always been an immigration debate. We've been through amnesty. It's always been a hot topic.

"But numbers were a tenth of what we're seeing...We've gotten away from the whole vetting process."

Since October 1, the San Diego sector has been home to what Wells, a Republican, describes as an "alarming" 214,855 apprehensions.

"Ninety percent of it is federal policy, really the policy of the president," said Wells, who has been mayor since 2013. "But there's also the added incentive that California is a sanctuary state, so we're not pushing back like Texas and Arizona are pushing back.

"California isn't doing that at all. So, as the cartels meet more resistance, more are inclined to come to California."

The border apprehensions are coupled with more than 40,000 street releases in San Diego County, Wells said, alluding to a street release program that began in September.

Migrants are basically dropped off on streets rather than in processing centers due to a lack of space and staffing, with many interacting with nongovernmental organizations that help them board trains or buses to find new long-term destinations.

While most of the migrants dropped off leave areas like San Diego County, Wells said, some stay.

He said he's spoken with migrants, many from countries in Africa or from Haiti, who will routinely occupy parking lots at places like Home Depot or Lowe's in search of employment.

Wells, a U.S. congressional candidate this November in California's 51st district, posted videos on his X account showing torn-up ID cards and passports discarded at the San Diego border.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified in front of Congress earlier this year about that same concern, warning that undocumented migrants who ditch their IDs are much harder for federal authorities to locate and detain because the paper trail becomes much more convoluted.

In late April, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to advance a long-term migrant and asylum-seeker transit center plan. Some $19 million in federal funding will help go towards shelter, food, transportation, acute medical care, personal hygiene supplies and labor to support migrants recently released from federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody.

But San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, a Republican, has been a consistent voice against such measures. He has called his town an "epicenter" of the migrant crisis and, like Wells, believes the buck stops with the president.

Desmond told Newsweek via email on Tuesday that the biggest issue is not enforcing current immigration law.

"It's no surprise that San Diego leads in border encounters," Desmond said. "This is what happens when you roll out the red carpet and provide free healthcare, legal defense and incentives. This administration is not upholding the laws and is allowing millions to enter our country."