Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas describes the ‘extremely challenging’ situation at the border as troops move into Texas and cities declare a state of emergency with Title 42 due to chaos within days
- Alejandro Mayorkas is on a two-day trip to the border to check out conditions
- Title 42 expires May 11, lifting pandemic migration restrictions
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited the southern border on Friday to see preparations for the end of Title 42 next week and described the situation as “challenging.”
“The situation at the border is very serious,” he told reporters in Brownsville, Texas. “A very challenging one, and a very difficult one.”
This week, the White House announced it would send 1,500 troops to the border. And cities in Texas and Arizona have begun declaring states of emergency.
Mayorkas was asked if enough had been done to cope with the expected influx.
“I think there is no doubt that this is going to be a huge challenge,” he said. “I don’t want to underestimate the seriousness of the challenge we expect.”
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks to reporters about immigration and the Trump-era eviction policy, Title 42, which expires next week
Hundreds of migrants camp around Sacred Heart Catholic Church in El Paso, Texas. The city has declared a state of emergency before the lifting of Title 42
Republicans, who have scored political points on the record number of people crossing the border, scoffed at his choice of words.
“The word Mayorkas is looking for is ‘crisis,'” the Republican National Committee tweeted.
Title 42 is a regulation that allows border authorities to immediately return migrants who cross the border illegally during public health emergencies.
It was invoked by the Trump administration during the COVID pandemic.
It expires on May 11, so migrants will now be treated under Title 8, the country’s existing immigration law.
At least 12,000 people have gathered in the Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez, according to the mayor of neighboring El Paso, and may be waiting for Title 42 to end before attempting to cross in the mistaken belief that they will be allowed to enter the United States. States.
Mayorkas said the US was actually tightening the rules.
“By May 11, we will finalize the rule we have published in a proposed format that states that persons who are denied access to our legal pathways will be presumed ineligible for asylum and will have a higher burden of proof to support that presumption of exclusion.” overcome,” he said.
“We build legal pathways and we deliver consequences for those who don’t use those meaningfully accessible pathways.
“The message is very clear. We come with the relief our laws bring to those in need.
“The border is not open, it has not been open and will not be open after May 11.”
A member of the Texas National Guard places a barbed wire fence on the border between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez. Another 1500 troops are on their way
He said smugglers seeking to exploit the vulnerable were spreading misinformation.
Illegal crossings fell after President Joe Biden announced asylum restrictions in January, but they have risen since mid-April.
Mayorkas said it was caused by an increase in the number of people from Venezuela.
Brandon Judd, chairman of the National Border Patrol Council, said they’re hovering around 7,200 a day this week, up from about 5,200 in March.
Border patrol chief Raul Ortiz said 1,500 active duty troops will be sent to El Paso, Texas, in addition to the 2,500 National Guard troops already positioned across the border.
Ortiz said El Paso was chosen because it has been a busy corridor for illegal crossings for the past six months. The troop deployment was announced this week, but not the location.