(CNN) -- Angry protesters forced three buses carrying undocumented immigrants to turn around Tuesday in Southern California. The immigrants had arrived in San Diego from south Texas and were on their way to be processed at the Murrieta Border Patrol station. Protesters chanting "USA!" "Impeach Obama!" and "Deport, Deport!" blocked their route. A heated yelling match ensued between the demonstrators and a group of counterprotesters. As the buses were forced to retreat, the roughly 140 people on board were taken to a border station in San Ysidro, according to Ron Zermeno with the National Border Patrol Council. It was not immediately clear whether they would stay there or what would happen next.
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NEW: "Remember these are human beings that are fleeing the violence," mayor says
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Protesters and counterprotesters debate in a heated yelling match
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The immigrants had arrived for processing from south Texas
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The U.S. has been dealing with increasing numbers of children crossing the border
To help relieve crowded facilities in @placeholder, undocumented immigrants are now being sent elsewhere to be processed.