Immigration Crisis: The Fight for the Southern Border

An outcry on both sides of the aisle after 48 migrants were sent to Martha’s Vineyard, one of the most luxurious vacation spots in the United States – and a self-proclaimed Sanctuary City. The next day, two busses from Texas dropped off immigrants in front of the vice president’s home.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What should we call people who come into the United States? Migrants, immigrants, asylum seekers, undocumented – just to name a few.

Today we talk to retired Homeland Security agent in charge Ari Jimenez. the former supervisor of the San Antonio region which reaches all the way to the Mexican border. He explains why these individual names should not be used as a blanket statement.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new journey bringing migrants to a new processing center in San Antonio. But not everyone is happy to see them. We talk to a member of a group that has been protesting for weeks in front of the center. He is an immigrant from Colombia who came with family when he was little.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Rio Grande is the final physical barrier between migrants in Mexico and the United States. Yami Virgin experienced what Border Patrol Agents go through every day to save migrants from the river.

“The starkest reminder that we've had here recently is the passing of specialist Evans, the National Guard hero that put himself into harm's way to rescue a migrant and unfortunately lost,” explained Border Patrol Chief Jason D. Owens.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we take a tour of the Rio Grande Valley with Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. We take a trip to Del Rio, home of Laughlin Air Force Base where US pilots are trained -- and now known for being one of the hotspots for migrants to cross into the US from Acuna, Mexico just across the river. 

So what are these asylum laws that everyone keeps talking about? Why not just get rid of them? Immigration attorney Amy Maldonado explains - and takes us on a little history lesson.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A coyote agreed to charge them $1,700 each to cross the border. But will the sounds and images of 53 migrants who died in the back on an 18-wheeler in San Antonio be enough to change her mind?

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It happened on June 27th in San Antonio, Texas - just hours from the US border - the largest mass casualty smuggling tragedy in US history.

51 migrants, including five children, lost their lives after the driver of the 18-wheeler that was transporting them into the United States left them in the back of the trailer with no air conditioning in the brutal Texas summer heat. Temperatures that day reached close to 100 degrees.

What you are about to hear is the scanner chatter recorded by Broadcastify, which aired on our TV stations in San Antonio. In it we hear first responders as they frantically try to save lives and also look for the driver and those who may have left the migrants in that trailer.

We recorded this episode live the night of the incident with Ari Jimenez, the former Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Region of Homeland Security Investigations. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Located on an isthmus, Panama connects North America to South America. It has also become a route for hundreds of thousands of migrants from all over the world. Since 2019 myself and photojournalists Brian Sanchez and Pablo Cavazos have traveled to Panama, specifically to the Darien Province which borders Colombia, to see the migration pattern and to share the stories of those who use this route to make it to the U.S.

One of those major groups has been Cubans, many whom we have followed and met on the Texas border once their journey was over. Three years later, the journey through Panama’s Darien Gap, one of the most dangerous jungles in the world, continues.

Chief Jason Owen, in charge of the Del Rio sector of the US Border Patrol, which includes Del Rio, Eagle Pass and the Uvalde area, is seeing those who crossed Panama’s Darien in his sector in record numbers. He also knows the pain that many migrants suffer along the way. Some losing their lives.

In this episode, Chief Owen sends a message in Spanish to some who may be here in Panama, waiting to continue their migration north before it’s too late.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The migrant experience through the eyes of an American going through the immigration process. A former reporter who specialized in border issues explains why she decided to move from the United States to Panama.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Craig Larabee from Homeland Security shared with us what’s being doing to prevent migrants from being injured or killed trying to cross the border with the help of coyotes, who are using them to make a quick dollar.

Most of us know about Border Patrol and their mission, to protect the border by keeping a close eye on what and whom is coming or going from the United States. It’s a job made more difficult not only by the volume of migrants entering the country, but also by those who smuggle them in. When a ring is found or a smuggling case is open, those who takeover and open the investigation are the men and women of Homeland Security Investigations. Now more than ever their expertise is needed.

I want to thank the men and women of Homeland Security Investigations who always lend themselves to teach the public and are transparent for all to know how our tax dollars are being spent in the pursuit of safety for all at the border.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.