Border Cities Brace For Migrant Surge Ahead Of Title 42'S End

The recent lifting of Title 42 has sparked a crisis at the border, with cities along the U.S.-Mexico border bracing themselves for a surge in migrants. This policy, implemented during the pandemic to curb the spread of COVID-19, allowed officials to turn back migrants attempting to enter the country. However, with restrictions now lifted, cities are struggling to handle the expected wave of migrants.

Section 1: The State of Emergency

In El Paso, Texas, the situation is dire. Migrant shelters are already at capacity, and some individuals, mainly single adult men, are resorting to sleeping on the streets in makeshift camps just to get inside these overcrowded shelters. The Sacred Heart Church has become the epicenter of this overcrowding, with people waking up on the streets in hopes of finding refuge within its walls.

Compounding the issue is the lack of FEMA funding for these shelters. They are still waiting to be reimbursed through the county, leaving them overwhelmed and ill-equipped to handle an influx of migrants. And this is all before Title 42 lifts.

Section 2: The Impending Surge

As Title 42 expires, it is expected that more migrants will attempt to cross the border and claim asylum. The Border Patrol is sending additional resources from DHS and I.C.E., but no matter how they allocate their resources or change their policies, one thing remains constant: processing each migrant will take longer.

Gone are the days of quickly turning migrants back at the border. Now, each case must be heard individually, leading to longer processing times and potentially more migrants being released onto the streets. This shift has prompted a change in strategy in El Paso. Just yesterday, DHS conducted enforcement actions for people living on the streets, urging them to turn themselves in for processing. This move cleared out the streets ahead of the anticipated surge.

Section 3: Resource Challenges

The city of El Paso is doing its best to address the resource challenges posed by this crisis. They are opening more shelters and adding beds, but they need financial support from FEMA to cover these expenses. Immigration is a federal responsibility, and the burden should not fall solely on the city's budget.

To alleviate some of the strain on border patrol agents, the Biden administration has deployed 1,500 active-duty troops to the border in a supportive role. While they will not be directly interacting with migrants, their presence will free up more border patrol agents