The unrest over the weekend at the U.S.-Mexican border has prompted even tighter security measures.
Officials say some 500 Central American migrants rushed the border crossing in San Diego, resulting in chaos. U.S. Border Patrol agents fired tear gas into the crowd in neighboring Tijuana, and the busy San Ysidro crossing was temporarily shut down.
Authorities say projectiles were being thrown at agents, causing a safety risk.
After Sunday's events, Mexico is promising to tighten security and deport those who violently try to enter the U.S.
News 12 The Bronx spoke with immigration lawyer Matthew Merrick about the situation.
"If the U.S. wanted to avoid having so many people leave those countries to come to the United States to seek refuge, perhaps they could focus some attention on what proactive steps the U.S. can take to alleviate the unbearable situations these people are facing down there," Merrick says.
But with the current political climate, Merrick says there could possibly be more situations like the one that unfolded over the weekend at the border.