Migrants Rush to US Border Ahead of Title 42 Expiration
Migrants have been rushing to the U.S.
border in anticipation of the expiration of Title 42.
This policy, implemented in 2020 to control the spread of COVID-19, granted the government the authority to quickly expel migrants.
With the imminent end of Title 42, up to 12,000 migrants are expected to cross the border daily, leading to a growing humanitarian crisis in Mexico.
Officials in New York City are preparing for an influx of asylum seekers as shelters are already overwhelmed.
In response, Mayor Adams has suspended the right to shelter, which includes regulations requiring families to be housed in private rooms with individual bathrooms and kitchens rather than in group settings.
The situation at the border has reached a critical point, as hundreds of migrants continue to arrive.
Some are picked up by buses, while others cram into vehicles at the border.
Men, women, and even children have been escorted out of the gates.
The urgency stems from the convergence of two immigration policies: Title 42, the health policy implemented during the COVID-19 era, which allowed U.S.
officials to swiftly expel most migrants without considering their asylum claims, and another immigration policy that will end just before midnight.
President Biden acknowledges that there may be chaos at the border for a while.
He emphasizes the importance of legal immigration and warns that there are legal and illegal ways to enter the country.
Officials had anticipated a surge in migrants as Title 42 expired, but they now confirm that the surge is already underway.
Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz states that the increase observed in the past 5-7 days is the surge they predicted after May 11th.
However, he does not expect the numbers to reach the initially projected 17,000-18,000 crossings per day.
New rules will be implemented for asylum seekers, including a requirement for some migrants to have applied for and been denied asylum in another country before they are eligible to apply in the U.S.
Additionally, individuals who are removed from the country could face at least a five-year ban.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that over 1.4 million people have already been sent back in the past year.
Authorities emphasize that the borders are not open, and those who unlawfully cross the border without a legal basis to remain will be promptly processed and removed.
Aid workers highlight that while some migrants are aware of the changing policies, many are not fully informed.
These individuals are taking significant risks to come to the United States because they feel they cannot stay in their home countries.
As of Wednesday, U.S.
Border Patrol had nearly 27,000 people in custody, with more than half of their nine facilities along the southwest border operating at maximum capacity.
This situation has prompted them to focus on managing the increasing number of migrants.
