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Migrants Face Tear Gas From Border Patrol In Confrontation Along U.S.-Mexico Line

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A Central American migrant is stopped by U.S. agents who order him to go back to the Mexican side of the border, after a group of migrants got past Mexican police at the Chaparral crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, at the border with San Ysidro, California. The mayor of Tijuana has declared a humanitarian crisis in his border city and says that he has asked the United Nations for aid to deal with the approximately 5,000 Central American migrants who have arrived in the city. (AP Photo/Pedro Acosta-APTOPIX)
A Central American migrant is stopped by U.S. agents who order him to go back to the Mexican side of the border, after a group of migrants got past Mexican police at the Chaparral crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, at the border with San Ysidro, California. The mayor of Tijuana has declared a humanitarian crisis in his border city and says that he has asked the United Nations for aid to deal with the approximately 5,000 Central American migrants who have arrived in the city. (AP Photo/Pedro Acosta-APTOPIX)

With Jane Clayson

Tear gas and a dramatic clash between border patrol and migrants trying to cross into the U.S. We’ll get the view from both sides of the border.

Guests

Jean Guerrero, fronteras reporter for KPBS, where she covers immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border. (@jeanguerre)

Santiago Pérez, Wall Street Journal deputy editor for Latin America, based in Mexico City. (@PerezEnMexico)

From The Reading List

CNN: "Trump, CBP defend use of tear gas on migrants on the border" — "President Donald Trump and the head of United States Customs and Border Protection on Monday defended the use of tear gas on a group of migrants who rushed the US-Mexico border Sunday.

"At the White House, Trump said that border agents involved in the incident 'had to use (force) because they were being rushed by some very tough people and they used tear gas.'

'Here's the bottom line, nobody's coming into our country unless they're coming legally,' he added. Trump also said the Mexican government 'wants to see if they can straighten it out.'

"CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told reporters earlier Monday that as many as 1,000 people that were part of a migrant caravan traveling through Central America and Mexico sought to enter the US illegally."

Wall Street Journal: "U.S. Border Patrol Uses Tear Gas to Disperse Migrant Caravan" — "U.S. Border Patrol agents used tear gas to disperse hundreds of Central American migrants in the Mexican city of Tijuana who made a rush for the border fence, as tension builds over the diminishing prospects for asylum seekers trying to enter the country.

"Mexico’s Milenio television station showed dozens of people climbing the fence on the Mexican side of the border before they were turned back. Women and children were among those affected by the use of tear gas, migrants said.

"The border patrol said it deployed the gas after several of its agents were hit by projectiles. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said traffic has resumed at the San Ysidro border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana. It had been suspended earlier after the attempted breach."

CNBC: "Trump urges Congress to 'fund the wall' as migrant children face tear gas at the border" — "As images of migrant children fleeing tear gas near the U.S.-Mexico border made rounds Monday, President Donald Trump aimed to use the chaos to attempt to score a political victory.

"The government repelled hundreds of migrants who tried to cross illegally near the busy San Ysidro port of entry Sunday, claiming they threw 'projectiles' at U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The Trump administration temporarily shut down the port near San Diego on Sunday, reopening it on Sunday night.

"Trump — who has cast many of the asylum-seeking migrants fleeing violence in Central America as violent criminals — seized on the clash Monday as he pushes for Congress to fund his proposed border wall. In a tweet, he called on Mexico to send the migrants to their home countries and threatened to 'close the Border permanently if need be.' It is not clear that Trump has the power to unilaterally shut down the border, a move that could stifle some commerce.

"'Congress, fund the WALL!' he wrote."

This segment aired on November 27, 2018.

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