With the Border Patrol’s release of thousands of migrants onto the streets, tension grips the suburban enclave of El Cajon, just 25 miles from the United States-Mexico border, prompting a surge in gun purchases among residents.
At the beginning of April, San Diego experienced a rise in the arrests involving the migrant population by 6,997 in seven days.
The figure is comparable to the monthly totals typically seen in other sectors, and it only accounts for those apprehended, suggesting the actual scale is probably higher.
“Unfortunately, I’m not surprised,” remarked San Diego County Commissioner Jim Desmond to Daily Mail.
Desmond noted, “Texas is clamping down, and other areas are clamping down.”
He continued, “Here in California, they’re allowed to walk in unimpeded. They’re going to follow the path of least resistance, and the least resistance is in California.”
Since September, approximately 125,000 migrants have been released onto the streets in the San Diego area, a development that has left the local residents feeling unsettled.
Firearms Unlimited California, a small gun shop northeast of San Diego, has seen an influx of customers amid rising concerns over border security.
The shop, busy with buyers on a recent Friday afternoon, has become a gathering spot for residents feeling unsettled by the large number of migrants being released into their community.
Owner Cory Gautereaux said, “The problem for people that live around the gun store is the street drop-offs.” He noted a significant uptick in business, linking it directly to the local impact of border policy changes.
“That’s driven business to us,” he added, as residents look to arm themselves in response to their growing safety concerns.
The Border Patrol’s decision to bus asylum-seeking migrants into the community has exacerbated fears.
Keith Carnevale, a longtime store customer, voiced his widened concerns.
“My wife and I have had home defense guns for many years. Recently, though, with all the stuff that’s happening south of the border and all the people coming over, my concerns have broadened,” he stated, suggesting a perceived increase in threats.
His son, Anthony Carnevale, also expressed unease about the government’s role in the situation.
“I don’t think it’s just a matter of the numbers of undocumented people, I think a lot of people are concerned about the state of our own government to be just allowing this and why,” he commented during his visit to the store.
El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells has recognized the unease among his constituents, highlighting the dual impact of immigration and homelessness on community safety.
“We see the massive amounts of violence that’s happening, a lot from the immigrant situation, but a lot from the homeless situation as well,” Wells reported. “People are frightened, and I do believe they’re arming themselves more.”
Border Patrol is limited to detaining migrants for a maximum of 72 hours, and the task of swiftly processing them while also conducting background checks has become overwhelmingly challenging.
