The United States mobilized 24,000 security elements on its borders in anticipation of a large-scale influx of migrants following the issuance of the health order lifting the public health emergency that was in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged that the “coming days and weeks” could be “very difficult”, noting that authorities had already detected a “large number” of migrants arriving at the border.
US President Joe Biden acknowledged a day ago that things could get “chaotic” when the stock dubbed “Title 42” ceases to operate Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Washington time (03:59 GMT Friday).
This measure prevents the filing of an asylum request in the United States and allows migrants to be immediately deported to Mexico under the pretext of fighting against COVID-19.
Border towns like Brownsville, Laredo and El Paso have seen large numbers of immigrants, mostly from Latin America but also from China, Russia and Turkey.
Across the border, in Ciudad Juarez and Matamoros, hundreds of people were rushing to try to enter the United States to seek asylum, fearing that a change in the rules in force could prevent them from doing so during five years.
In order to help local authorities, the US government announced on Wednesday the deployment of “more than 24,000 law enforcement personnel, as well as more than 1,100 coordinators” from the Border Patrol.
In addition to them, 1,500 soldiers have been deployed by the Ministry of Defense at the borders to support the 2,500 who are there.
Meanwhile, the US Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have finalized the new asylum restrictions announced in February and will be consulted before they take effect Thursday evening. Before reaching the border, people wishing to apply for asylum, with the exception of unaccompanied minors, will have to obtain an appointment fixed via a mobile application developed by the border guards. Otherwise, their application will be considered invalid and they may be subject to expedited removal procedures that will prevent them from entering the United States for five years.
Source: Qatar News Agency