On Tuesday March 30, 2021 the Biden administration allowed for reporters to go into the main detention facility at the border in Donna, Texas for the first time. To no surprise, the journalists revealed a severely overcrowded tent structure where more than 4,000 kids and families were crammed into pods with the youngest kept in a large play pen with mats on the floor for sleeping. Many of the children in this facility have also recently tested positive for Covid-19 due to these conditions, however no changes have been made as the children have still been forced to remain in close quarters, which can be sen in the image below.
This problem stems from the high and continuously growing number of immigrants waiting to cross the border due to Biden’s proposed immigration policies. The number of migrants crossing into the US reached its highest levels in at least 15 years; more than 170,000 migrants were taken into custody by Customs and Border Patrol employees in the month of March. Of those apprehensions, more than 18,800 of those were unaccompanied minors held in facilities like the one pictured above. Roughly 53,000 people were detained as part of a family group in March, also a record number. With that being said, the March data also shows a doubling of border arrests and detentions since January alone due to all of the people gathering there.
Realizing there was limited space and overcrowding, the Biden administration has opened several military and civilian facilities around the country to help house the increase in individuals, families and unaccompanied minors. Even with the increase in facilities being opened, there is still evidence of cramped detention conditions where individuals are being held far longer than legal limits state while they wait for beds at emergency shelters run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Another new 90,000-square-foot tent facility is planned to open soon near Eagle Pass, Texas to help the agency handle the large volume of families and children, but it is likely the cramped conditions and long stays will still be an issue.
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