Texas Agencies Buckle Up for the Influx of Migrants When Title 42 Expulsion Ends in May
Texas agencies are preparing for the upcoming influx of migrants on the southern border, that is expected to take place after the Title 42 expulsion meets the end of its effectivity.
According to Fox News, members of the Texas National Guard will undergo training exercises for the next six weeks at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the first training in the Rio Grande Valley.
Southwest border Operation Chief of Staff Colonel Patrick Nolan said that traditionally, the Rio Grande Valley has the highest illegal immigration activity. However, with more personnel on the ground, planes in the sky, Texas National Guard, and other agencies from the state, they are hoping to deter and stop the illegal crossings, Nolan said.
"We have to look at the real possibility that we might have to respond to more than one event at more than one place," Nolan added.
Colonel Nolan added that Texas will be the frontline of defense when the mass migration occurs, contending that the state is located 1900 miles from the border.
Nolan further noted that illegal crossing also poses a security threat not only for Texas but the entire United States, emphasizing that criminals will be looking to cross the borders.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Urges Local Authorities to Prepare as Title 42 Expulsion Nears Its End
The training of the Texas National Guard members and other agencies came as Governor Greg Abbott encouraged the local authorities of the lone star state to prepare for the upcoming influx of migrants.
"The time to prepare is now. If you wait until May, it may be too late. If you wait until May 23, it's going to be too late because you're going to be completely overwhelmed," Abbott underscored while speaking to a Texas Border Sherriff's Coalition meeting in El Paso, per FOX 46.
Abbott issued his plea to the Texas counties from El Paso to Brownsville to utilize the state resources over the 18,000 expected illegal immigrants that will come to the borders when the Title 42 expulsion ends.
The Texas governor also pointed out that what the people are seeing in the borders today is nothing compared to what will be seen in the area in about a month.
"What we're going to be seeing based upon the prognostications of the Biden administration itself is going to be cataclysmic," Abbott emphasized.
Expert Says Migrants Influx Caused by the Ending of Title 42 Expulsion Will Not Last "Forever"
On Monday, an associate professor from the American University and the director of Immigration Lab, Ernesto Castaneda, explained to NBC 24 the upcoming influx of migrants in the borders when Title 42 ends.
Castaneda said that the influx is going to happen because there are a lot of immigrants who could not legally apply for asylum because the border was closed.
"So, it's not that there's going to be the floodgates and more people are going to come, but people that were not allowed to apply, they're going to finally be able to apply so this is going to increase encounters of the border. And this is not going to go on forever," Castaneda stressed.
Castaneda added that the White House can do things regarding the issue. However, resources, personnel, and staff to process the asylum cases will not be enough.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written By: Joshua Summers
WATCH: A Migrant Influx is Expected as Title 42 Ends - From KVUE