Busiest Mexico border crossing shut for hours

TIJUANA,MEXICO— The United States closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the busiest border crossing with Mexico to install new security barriers Monday, a day after hundreds of Tijuana residents protested against the presence of thousands of Central American migrants.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection received information about migrant caravan members gathering in Tijuana for a possible attempt to rush illegally through the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Two pedestrian crossings were also closed.

“CBP will not allow for the unlawful entry of persons into the United States, at or between our ports of entry,” said Pete Flores, director of field operations in San Diego. “Waiting until a large group of persons mass at the border to attempt an illegal crossing is too late for us; we need to be prepared prior to when they arrive at the border crossing.”

The installation of movable, wire-topped barriers threatens to complicate life for Mexicans using San Ysidro, where about 110,000 people enter the U.S. every day in 40,000 vehicles.

Long lines backed up in Tijuana, where many people have to cross the border to work on the U.S. side.

Such inconveniences prompted by the arrival of the migrant caravan may have played a role in Sunday’s protests, when about 400 Tijuana residents waved Mexican flags, sang the Mexican national anthem and chanted, “Out! Out!” referring to the migrant caravan that arrived in the border city last week.

Tensions have built as nearly 3,000 migrants from the caravan poured into Tijuana in recent days after more than a month on the road — and with many more months likely ahead of them while they seek asylum in the U.S. The federal government estimates the number of migrants could soon swell to 10,000.

U.S. border inspectors are processing only about 100 asylum claims a day at Tijuana’s main crossing to San Diego. Asylum seekers register their names in a notebook managed by migrants themselves that had more than 3,000 names even before the caravan arrived.

Some Tijuana residents supported the migrants, but others accused them of being messy, ungrateful and a danger to the city. They also complained about how the caravan forced its way into Mexico, calling it an “invasion.” And they voiced worries that their taxes might be spent to care for the group.

“We don’t want them in Tijuana,” protesters shouted.

Juana Rodriguez, a housewife, said the government needs to conduct background checks on the migrants to make sure they don’t have criminal records.

The protests came amid what may be a hardening of positions in some northern Mexican states against the migrants.

RODRIGO ABD / ASSOCIATED PRESS The media ring an anti-migrant demonstrator arguing with a woman at a protest Sunday against Central American migrants in Tijuana, Mexico.