The Biden administration is under increasing pressure from Democrats and immigrant supporters to end the principle of public health, which critics say has never been justified by science and puts immigrants at risk. Former President Donald Trump invoked power at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a move that was immediately met with skepticism by immigrant supporters, public health experts and even government officials who believed it was politically motivated. However, the Biden government continued to rely on Title 42 despite objections from its allies. According to the US Customs and Border Protection, 1.7 million migrants have been returned to Mexico or their country of origin since March 2020. Managing the U.S.-Mexico border is a politically precarious issue for President Joe Biden in the run-up to the midterm elections, as Republicans forge the government on its immigration agenda. In the past year, Biden has already faced an influx of unaccompanied immigrant children and a wave of immigrants in Del Rio, Texas, who have driven thousands of people under a bridge. If the order is canceled, it is expected to have immediate effects. Homeland Security officials are preparing for the worst-case scenario of up to 18,000 people trying to cross the border every day, a number that is sure to flood flooded border crossings. The Associated Press first reported on the administration’s plans. Three design scenarios have been devised to activate the resources that may be needed. The first scenario is where the current arrest data are, the second scenario is up to 12,000 people a day and the third scenario is up to 18,000 people a day, according to a design document. “The nature and extent of the migration have changed radically,” a DHS official told reporters on Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security has set up a “Southwest Border Coordination Center” to coordinate a response to a possible increase between federal agencies. Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mallorca appointed FEMA Regional Director 3 MaryAnn Tierney as head of the center in March. Ending the Trump-era pandemic restrictions would mean a return to traditional protocols, which may include the release of immigrants to the United States while undergoing immigration, detention or deportation if they do not have asylum. Immigrants released to the United States may alternatively enroll in detention programs for ongoing monitoring. As part of the design, DHS is also contracting for the relocation of detained migrants at the border to reception, setting up additional processing facilities and reinforcing staff on the ground. The administration has already begun offering Covid-19 vaccines to immigrants found on the southern border of the United States. “This is what we do at DHS. We plan for all kinds of emergencies, whether they are high probability or low probability,” said another Homeland Security official.
Tens of thousands of people on the US-Mexico border
Between 30,000 and 60,000 people are estimated to be in northern Mexico waiting to cross the southern US border, according to a federal law enforcement official. Information estimates have found that people are in a “wait and see” state and are trying to determine when they are most likely to enter the US, the official said, adding that some 30,000 to 60,000 people could seek entry within a few hours if the CDC rule is lifted. The White House held meetings between the intelligence services and the situation in general, the official said. “The key is whether (immigrants) realize if they have a better chance of success,” the official said. The total number of border arrests is expected to reach 1 million soon, months before the end of the financial year, US Border Patrol chief Raul Ortiz said on Tuesday. These elements also include repetitive crossers. Among the challenges for officials is the change in demographics reaching the southern US border. About 40 percent of the migrants detained came from countries other than Mexico and the Northern Triangle, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, according to an Homeland Security official. “I think it’s important, as we are experiencing increased flow right now, to deal with it as much as we can,” Ortiz said. This story has been updated with additional details.
