Sébastien Le Belzic (special correspondent in Egale Pass, Texas), edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Lokman Vural Elibol / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP 06:26, March 2, 2024

Three days before the American primaries, the political debate is crystallizing around the question of illegal immigration.

The state of Texas is at the forefront of this migration crisis, particularly at Eagle Pass, the main border crossing point between Mexico and the United States.

The fortified Eagle Pass border crossing in Texas is the main crossing point between Mexico and the United States.

But below, along the Rio Grande River, thousands of people try to cross the border illegally every day.

“This is where they cut,” describes a reservist in the Texas National Guard, who points to a passage created through the barbed wire that separates the border.

“We see that they did not succeed in cutting it entirely, but if you go over there to the left, you will see a wide passage,” he continues at the microphone of the special correspondent of Europe 1.

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For this nearby resident, the situation is untenable.

“We were really invaded, a massive arrival. If you lived here in Eagle Pass, you would know it,” he whispers.

This situation illustrates the question of illegal immigration, while the debate is crystallizing around this subject three days before the American primaries.

The Texan state is at the forefront of this migration crisis which last year saw more than three million illegal immigrants cross the border.

So, Texas launched Operation Lone Star to secure the border.

But for this resident met by Europe 1, it is money poorly spent.

"It's too much money spent, we complain about that. Operation 'Lone Star' cost five billion dollars, five billion," she says, "and at the same time, teachers are suffering , people lack water... We need infrastructure in these communities on the border." 

The Republican governor of Texas, supported by Donald Trump, is now threatening to deploy his own troops to the border.