A vehicle convoy carrying Americans opposed to illegal immigration plans to rally at three points near the U.S.-Mexico border on Saturday, with organizers saying the action will focus on peaceful protest and prayer.
Critics of the convoy, however, worry it could fuel anti-immigrant sentiment at a time of acrimonious political sparring over the border and high numbers of migrant crossings.
The “Take Our Border Back” convoy set off from Virginia this week and aims to hold events near Eagle Pass, Texas – the site of an ongoing standoff between the U.S. state and federal authorities over border security – as well as in Yuma, Arizona, and San Ysidro, California.
Two truckers who led legs of the convoy – Vincent Saben of Massachusetts and Kip Coltrin of Louisiana – estimated between 70 and 300 vehicles had participated as of Thursday morning. Reuters could not independently verify the figures.
The convoy hopes to bring more attention to border security as the number of migrants caught illegally crossing into the U.S. has reached record highs under President Joe Biden, a Democrat seeking reelection in November. Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, the party’s leading presidential candidate, have called for more restrictive policies and sought to motivate their base voters with the issue.
Eagle Pass has become a flashpoint in a dispute between the White House and Texas’ Republican Governor Greg Abbott over federal and state powers to deal with illegal immigration. Texas has deployed National Guard troops to the border and laid concertina wire and floating buoy barriers in the Rio Grande in an effort to deter migrant crossings, leading to legal and political disputes with… Read full article here
