
Migrants faced tear gas once again as they tried to cross the US-Mexico border from Tijuana to San Diego on New Year's Eve.

Around 100 Central American caravan migrants failed in their attempt to cross the border and enter the US on Monday.

As night fell and people on both sides of the border prepared to celebrate New Year's Eve, the migrants tried to cross over.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CPB) then hurled two smoke bombs at the migrants, holding them back.

Migrants faced tear gas once again as they tried to cross the US-Mexico border from Tijuana to San Diego on New Year's Eve

Around 100 Central American migrants failed in their attempt to cross the border and enter the US on Monday night

As night fell and people on both sides of the frontier prepared to celebrate New Year's Eve, the migrants tried to cross over. A migrant is pictured here taking cover from a huge cloud of tear gas

One migrant could be seen with his face covered in treatment after tear gas was thrown at the Mexican side of the fence in Tijuana.

Other photos showed migrants trying to take cover as a thick wall of tear gas surrounded them, or crying out in pain after they were hit by the gas.

The Department of Homeland Security accused the 'violent mob of migrants' of initiating attacks against U.S. border agents.

Customs and Border Protection statement on illegal border crossings in the San Diego Sector 'The following is based on initial operational reporting. 'Last night, an approximately 150 migrants attempted to illegally enter the United States by climbing over and crawling under border fence in San Diego Sector. 'Due to CBP’s increased presence, a first group of 45 turned back towards Mexico. 'Shortly thereafter, migrants began throwing rocks over the fence at the CBP agents and officers. 'Several teenagers, wrapped in heavy jackets, blankets and rubber mats were put over the concertina wire. 'Border Patrol agents witnessed members of the group attempt to lift toddler sized children up and over the concertina wire and having difficulty accomplishing the task in a safe manner. 'Agents were not in a position to safely assist the children due to the large number of rocks being thrown at them. 'To address the rock throwers assaulting agents and risking the safety of migrants attempting to cross who were already on the U.S. side, both smoke and minimal countermeasures were deployed. 'Agents deployed smoke, pepper spray and CS gas to a position upwind of the rock throwers and south of the border fence. 'The deployments were not directed at the migrants attempting entry on the U.S. side or at the fence line. 'The rock throwers were located south of the fence, in an elevated position both above the border fence area and the incursion attempt. 'These countermeasures successfully suppressed the rock throwers causing them to flee the area. 'Most of the migrants attempting the incursion, to include those with children, returned to Mexico via a hole under the fence and by climbing over the fence. 'No agents witnessed any of the migrants at the fence line, including children, experiencing effects of the chemical agents, which were targeted at the rock throwers further away. 'Twenty-five apprehensions, including two teenage migrants, were made. 'Under CBP use of force policy, this incident will be reviewed by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility.' Advertisement

'Once again we have had a violent mob of migrants attempt to enter the United States illegally by attacking our agents with projectiles,' DHS spokesperson Katie Waldman said.

'As has happened before - in this and previous administrations - our personnel used the minimum force necessary to defend themselves, defend our border, and restore order.

'The agents involved should be applauded for handling the situation with no reported injuries to the attackers.

'Initial reporting indicates that once the attempted illegal entry was thwarted by agents, the mob began pushing women and minors to the front, forcing minors to climb dangerous concertina wire, and encouraged conveniently invited media to begin filming their illegal acts.

'Unfortunately, Congress continues ignore the professional advice from the men and women of the Border Patrol who have told them that walls work.

'Congress needs to fully fund the border wall, amend the TVPRA, and end the Flores Settlement Agreement that encourages and rewards this type of lawlessness by migrants at the border.'

The incident comes a month after the Trump administration was heavily criticized for tear-gassing mothers and children at the border.

US Border Patrol shot tear gas and rubber bullets at a group of migrants, including toddlers, as members of the caravan tried to storm the border in November.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CPB) hurled two smoke bombs at the migrants, holding them back from the border

A migrant can be seen crying out in pain after being hit by the tear gas on Monday night, while another tries to comfort them

Children were screaming and coughing in the mayhem at the San Ysidro Port of Entry when American agents tried to push the surging Central Americans back.

Donald Trump later defended the use of tear gas on the crowd, claiming that border agents were 'being rushed by some very tough people'.

Trump also claimed the gas was 'very safe' and only a 'very minor form' of tear gas.

The president has yet to comment on Monday night's tear-gassing, although his rant against the Democrats for refusing to fund his wall has only continued amid the ongoing government shutdown.

'One thing has now been proven. The Democrats do not care about Open Borders and all of the crime and drugs that Open Borders bring!' Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning.

Monday's tear-gassing comes days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suddenly dropped off about 130 Central American migrants at an El Paso bus station with no food, shelter, or money.

City officials were left scrambling on Christmas Day to provide a place to stay for the migrants, most of whom were planning to travel to another destination so they could stay with a sponsor while the government reviews requests for asylum.

A migrant's face is covered in treatment after he was hit by the tear gas while trying to cross the border on Monday night

One migrant tried to throw back the tear gas bomb as others took cover around him at the US-Mexico border on Monday

The controversial move came on the same day CPB ordered medical checks on every child in its custody after an eight-year-old boy from Guatemala died, marking the second death of an immigrant child in the agency's care in December.

The deaths of the two migrant children has sparked outrage over the administration's policies toward asylum seekers.

Meanwhile, ICE has been releasing migrants from detention centers for weeks due to overcapacity, according to Texas Monthly.

The released migrants, mostly from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, were found by asylum officers to have a credible fear of persecution if they were to be repatriated.

A migrant can be seen here trying to run for cover as the tear gas surrounds them following the failed attempt to cross the US-Mexico border

A migrant from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, jumps from the border fence to cross it illegally from Mexico into the US on Tuesday morning

The president has yet to comment on Monday night's tear-gassing, although his rant against the Democrats for refusing to fund his wall has only continued amid the ongoing government shutdown

They have been permitted to stay in the US while pursuing the uphill legal battle of obtaining asylum.

ICE usually coordinates with local groups, charities, and nonprofits to arrange the orderly handover of migrants so that they could be housed in shelters.

But the agency gave no explanation as to why it dumped scores of migrants on the streets of El Paso without any food or shelter in 40-degree weather on Christmas Day.

Generous Good Samaritans have stepped up and provided food to the migrants while local groups have arranged for temporary shelter.

Because of the government shut down, ICE would not comment.

The incident comes a month after the Trump administration was heavily criticized for tear-gassing mothers and children at the border

US Border Patrol shot tear gas and rubber bullets at a group of migrants, including toddlers, as members of the caravan tried to storm the border in November

'All of ICE's public affairs officers are out of the office for the duration of the government shutdown,' the agency said.

'We are unable to respond to media queries during this period because we are prohibited by law from working.'

'ICE gave us a heads up about an hour or two ago that we were going to get 200 folks Downtown,' Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute, told the El Paso Times.

'This group right now is about 100, so we don't know if we are going to get another 100 or if this is it for the day.'

The tear-gassing comes days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suddenly dropped off about 130 Central American migrants at an El Paso bus station with no food, shelter, or money (pictured)

Democratic congresswoman Veronica Escobar called the government's actions 'unacceptable.'

'The federal government has an obligation to assist and not just leave people out in the cold, which is what they did yesterday and what they did the day before when they left people at and around the Greyhound bus station and that is what they did in October,' she told the Texas Tribune.

'That is unacceptable. Simply ridding itself of migrants is not a solution.'

'If they are able to create tent cities to jail children, then they should absolutely be able to construct the same kind of facilities as they did in 2016 to assist the migrants.'

'The federal government needs to step up and dumping people out on the streets is not stepping up.'