Sessions sends judges, attorneys to border to deal with ‘caravan’

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Wednesday he will send 35 additional U.S. state attorneys and 18 immigration judges to the southern border, as immigrants from the so-called “caravan” seek asylum in the United States.

Sessions said the additional judges will represent “about a 50 percent increase” in the local capacity to handle immigration claims.

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“We are not going to let this country be overwhelmed,” said Sessions. “People are not going to caravan or otherwise stampede our border. People should wait their turn.”

The caravan began in southern Mexico in early April with more than 1,100 Central American migrants banding together for safety and to make a political statement.

About 150 migrants, most of whom are seeking legal asylum in the United States, made it to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The migrants are currently camped on the Mexican side of the San Ysidro port of entry, between San Diego and Tijuana. U.S. authorities processed the claims of eight migrants Tuesday.

The Department of Justice filed charges against 11 other migrants, allegedly members of the caravan, for entering the country outside designated ports of entry.

“If you don’t want to have to go through this process, don’t come unlawfully,” said Sessions. “It’s not my fault, it’s not the Border Patrol’s fault when people enter unlawfully.”