Illegal Alien Crosses U.S. Border, Tests Positive from COVID-19
Based on a recent report from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an illegal alien coming from India was confirmed positive from the deadly COVID-19 virus, after crossing the US border.
In a statement from CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan, Border Patrol agents have arrested a group of illegal aliens near Calexico, California. The group consisted of three Mexican nationals and an Indian national.
According to anti-coronavirus policies, the three Mexican nationals were sent back to Mexico, while the Indian national was detained and transported to a USBP facility for processing. One of the officials who have processed the illegal agent asked him to take a medical evaluation after noticing that the individual had exhibited flu-like symptoms. After testing, the medical staff confirmed that the 31-year-old is indeed positive form coronavirus.
The commissioner reminded border patrols to remain vigilant, adding that such incidents highlight the importance of implementing strict border restrictions. “The potential for the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in CBP stations and processing centers presents a danger to migrants, our frontline agents and officers, and the American people,” Morgan said. He continued to assure the American public that Border Patrol agents will continue to protect the country, even if it might mean risking their own lives. He added that the fear of such an incident had pushed the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to allow CBP to turn over individuals whom they suspect might have been infected by the COVID-19 virus.
Finally, the commissioner agreed with President Donald Trump’s decision to implement stricter border restrictions. Morgan believed that if the pandemic had happened at the same time last year with more than 200,000 migrants in custody, it would have surely crippled healthcare systems, and overwhelmed processing stations.
Currently, the Indian immigrant was turned over to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in which he will be given appropriate medical attention. The CBP officials have also notified Mexican authorities to conduct contact tracing.
However, despite such incidents, Trump had been facing major backlash for his immigration suspension. In fact, last weekend, a coalition advocacy group filed an emergency request to stop the suspension. Based on Trump’s order, those with green card visas are exempted, as the suspension will only apply for green card applicants outside of the US.
The group claimed that Trump’s initiative, which was supposed to protect American workers and help the economy to recover, will not produce any economic benefits. The group cited that rather, it will only have opposite results. According to the group’s senior attorney, Esther Sung, Trump’s excuse to use the coronavirus to implement the immigration suspension as a way to protect the economy will further pull it down, saying that “recovery will depend on immigrants.”
Despite the fact that millions of Americans have already filed for unemployment claims, Rutgers professor, Jennifer Hunt, agreed with Sung that immigrants could boost the economy, Hunt went on to say that she does not see any positive impact on “displaced US workers.”