San Diego leader: 125,000+ illegal immigrants have been released into America without proper vetting

SAN DIEGO, CA - Speaking with the New York Post, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond said that within a mere six months, a "minimum" of 125,000 illegal immigrants have been released from detention centers and put onto the streets of San Diego without any proper vetting.

He said that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are "completely overwhelmed" by the continuous surge of illegal border crossings in Southern California, adding that this issue will have "dire consequences" for the rest of the United States. Citing figures that were provided to his office by CBP, he said that, "Over "125,000 migrants have been dropped in San Diego County since September 2023. That's just the minimum we know about and doesn't include families, boat arrivals or elderly people who are processed differently."

He added, "The numbers have gone through the roof." The county leader said that illegal immigrants are quite literally just "walking across the border unimpeded and no one is stopping them because of a lack of resources." The issue Desmond speaks of has been seen in areas such as Jacumba, which is located in the Western area of the county where gaps in the border wall have allowed streams of migrants to illegally cross into the country.

Desmond said that CBP does not have enough time or resources to properly vet people who cross the border illegally and are releasing them from detention entirely to quickly. He said, "It's a national issue as most people are released from detention within 24-48 hours and [then] going elsewhere in the country — many to the East coast."

According to CBP sources, the proper interview and vetting process for illegal immigrants require around 72 hours before all checks have been completed. Many illegal immigrants head elsewhere in the country, even after passing through the border in places like Southern California. However, the impact on San Diego is clearly visible. 

Desmond said that there is only one "migrant center" that is paid for by the federal government and that there is "nowhere for [the majority] to go, causing many to loiter around the city." He added, "They're being dropped off at a transit center to get buses or trains in Southern California that doesn't even have bathrooms or facilities."

Local media outlets in San Diego have previously reported about how some illegal immigrants just relieve themselves in public spaces, including cars, parks and on the streets. Desmond said that, "People's needs aren't being met and that it needs to be a humane process."

Additionally, groups of illegal immigrants are often found sleeping at the San Diego Airport after being released from detention centers, waiting until they can get a flight out to elsewhere in the country. Desmond said, "Unfortunately, San Diego Airport now has become the de facto migrant shelter, where they sleep there."

CBP data indicates that the San Diego sector saw an 85 percent increase in encounters in February compared to the same month the year prior. Agents made more than 230,000 encounters during fiscal year 2023, a record that 2024 is already on track to surpass. 

Desmond warned that Biden administration policies and the outrageous number of illegal immigrants crossing the border means that proper vetting is not happening. He added, "We don't know exactly where [the illegal immigrants] are going, who they are, what their backgrounds is, or if they mean to harm us. There are people who should be on terror watch lists and we're missing lots of them."

He said, "I don't blame the agents. I blame the Biden administration and Homeland Security for not enforcing our laws. If seeking asylum, you're supposed to be detained until that is found to have validity."