San Diego Sector experiences an increase in brazilian migrants never seen before

SAN DIEGO – While at different points of the border it is common to find migrants from countries such as Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala; San Diego is going through an atypical phenomenon, as the number of people coming from Brazil has increased in an unprecedented way.

According to the Border Patrol, San Diego Sector, in this Fiscal year that runs from October 1, 2020 to date, more than 7,300 Brazilian citizens have been captured, when last year there were only 330.

Statistics indicate that since april, agents have encountered more than 1,000 brazilian citizens attempting to enter the United States illegally, which represents an increase of more than 114,000% over the previous year.

For Border Patrol agents, this represents several difficulties, since there is a language barrier and cultural factors that do not allow good and effective communication with people.

This has caused a number of retired agents to be called back to patrol tasks, elements that were in other points have also been reassigned to provide their service in the San Diego Sector.

In addition to the income of these people, the elements of this point must work in a year that has become extremely demanding, since in this fiscal year there are already more than 100,000 detainees who try to enter the United States illegally, which also represents the number highest in the decade.

Aaron M. Heitke, USBP San Diego Sector Patrol Chief Agent, said that the Sector elements’ goal is to care for and protect the border, but migrants will be treated humanely and professionally at all times.

The San Diego Border Patrol has the responsibility to prevent the illicit smuggling of human beings, drugs and all types of contraband.