Officials with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection say the agency is hardening the border ahead of a migrant caravan that's coming to the states. The agency announced that they would shut down several lanes of traffic beginning Tuesday morning at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry to install equipment ahead of the arrival of the migrant caravan coming to the border.
In a statement, the agency said they will shut down three northbound lanes at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and one lane at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. The lanes are being closed so crews can install equipment "in preparation for the migrant caravan and the potential safety and security risk that it could cause."
“CBP has been and will continue to prepare for the potential arrival of thousands of people migrating in a caravan heading towards the border of the United States,” Pete Flores, director of San Diego field operations for Customs and Border Protection said in a statement.
Customs and Border Protection officials warn motorists crossing from Tijuana into San Diego should expect increased wait times thanks to the closures. The agency said the closures are expected to last "until sometime after people in the caravan arrive to the border."
A group of 5,000 migrants, mostly made up of people from Honduras voted to proceed from Mexico City to Tijuana on Thursday. It's unclear how long, or when the migrant caravan might reach the U.S. border.
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