US-Mexico Border Records Major Migrant Surge as Title 42 Ends

As the deadline for the Title 42 expiration neared on Thursday, migrants gathered on both sides of the US-Mexico border, with some attempting to cross the border, per Reuters.

The order, which was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to be replaced by a new policy.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been holding up to 28,000 migrants in its facilities recently, exceeding its capacity, according to information provided by two government officials who requested anonymity and the Border Patrol union.

The Rio Grande Valley and El Paso in Texas, as well as two locations in Arizona, have been identified by Brandon Judd, president of the Border Patrol union, as the busiest detention facilities.

Border authorities reported this week that they detained over 10,000 individuals attempting to cross the border illegally daily.

Some migrants have been released without notification to appear in immigration court to claim asylum and instead instructed to report to an immigration office later, Judd said.

This has been the case since Wednesday due to the surge in arrivals.

However, a federal judge in Florida issued an order halting such releases Thursday evening, citing that they were comparable to a previously discontinued policy that failed to adhere to the necessary regulatory procedures.

CBP declined to provide a statement.

Biden Administration Will Implement New Law to Replace Tile 42

Amidst the tumultuous situation at the US-Mexico border, President Joe Biden's administration has deployed additional personnel and resources to the region while introducing a new policy that will deny asylum to most undocumented immigrants, according to CNA.

This regulation will come into force when Title 42, the widespread COVID-19 public health emergency order, expires.

Individuals caught crossing the border illegally will face severe consequences, such as deportation and ineligibility for asylum for up to five years, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorka.

Biden, a Democrat seeking re-election in 2024, has been criticized by Republicans for abandoning the conservative principles of former Republican President Donald Trump, who is currently the party's frontrunner.

However, recently, officials within the Biden administration have launched a counter-offensive against Republicans, accusing them of failing to make any substantial changes to immigration laws or provide appropriate funding for border security.

"I asked the Congress for much more money for the Border Patrol. They didn't do it," Biden told reporters on Wednesday.

A bill to increase border security and restrict asylum applications is anticipated to pass through the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday. Still, it has a slim chance of gaining approval in the Democratically-controlled Senate.

Since Biden's inauguration in 2021, a record 4.6 million undocumented immigrants have been detained at the border, likely underestimating the number of migrants apprehended. Only 26% of respondents to a Reuters/Ipsos poll this week approved Biden's handling of the immigration issue.

At Least 100,000 Latin Americans to Reunite With Families

The Biden administration has unveiled a plan to allow a minimum of 100,000 Latin Americans to reunite with their families in the United States. The announcement was made just before the expiration of Title 42.

During a recent trip to Brownsville, Texas, Mayorkas announced that individuals must apply for authorization to join their relatives in the US at regional processing centers.

These centers will be established throughout the Western Hemisphere, beginning with Guatemala and Colombia.

Mayorkas stated that these hubs would process applications for family reunification parole, petitions for the US refugee program, and humanitarian parole for individuals identified as being highly vulnerable.

The administration has promised to provide more details by mid-June. Using US State Department data, Julia Gelatt of the Migration Policy Center stated that at least 284,000 Latin Americans had already filed family sponsorship petitions, including 78,000 Salvadorans, 57,000 Hondurans, 58,000 Guatemalans, and 56,000 Colombians.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 60,000 migrants waiting in Northern Mexico as Title 42 ends, border patrol says - From CBS News.