Migrants, many of them Haitian, cross the Rio Grande to get food and supplies near the Del Rio-Acuna Port of Entry in Ciudad Acuna on Sept. 18. Photo: Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images
The U.S. commenced deportation flights to Haiti on Sunday for the thousands of Haitian migrants seeking shelter in the small Texas border town of Del Rio, a source told the Associated Press.
Driving the news: More than 10,000 migrants, primarily from Haiti, have been staying in a crowded temporary camp with poor conditions under the international bridge in Del Rio. Hoping to find refuge in the United States, they've had to bear with filthy conditions and the scorching sun for days, per an NBC News affiliate.
- The Department of Homeland Security announced Saturday that it would send 400 agents to Del Rio and begin running removal flights to Haiti, Mexico, Ecuador, and Northern Triangle countries.
The big picture: Three removal flights left San Antonio for Haiti on Sunday, and the rate of these flights is expected to ramp up, reaching at least six per day "shortly," AP reported.
- More departure cities for the flights are being planned, according to AP.
- A portion of the southern border near Del Rio has also been closed in an effort to stymie the number of migrants crossing the border, per AP.
- Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry tweeted Saturday evening that arrangements have been made to receive the migrants, though he did not offer further details.