Mexican officials try to stop US-bound migrants

Ejido Jacumé, Baja California, Mexico CNN — The rust-colored barrier soars into the cloudless blue sky, a solid and almost impassable marker of the border between Mexico and the United States. Evelio Contreras/CNN Striking differences Increased patrols are visible on the Mexican side of the border wall both in urban, congested areas of Tijuana, and inland, amid the scrub and boulders of Ejido Jacumé. When officers on the Baja California side come across migrants, they take them into custody, referring to the apprehensions as “rescues.” But whereas on the US California side, the travelers are willing, even happy, to run toward border agents – often so they can start asylum proceedings – here it is a different story. “Also, this is a strategy against the criminal groups because we want to prevent migrants getting in touch with the criminal groups … We don’t want them to cross into these areas that are very dangerous, because there’s people that die in the intention to cross.” Officials on both sides of the border let each other know when repairs are needed or where patrols could be stationed. Evelio Contreras/CNN Pressure from Washington and Mexico City The desert camps and constant patrols came after US President Joe Biden urged Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to take action last December.