As the expiration of Title 42 approaches, thousands of migrants are flocking to the U.S.-Mexico border in the hopes of gaining entry into the United States.
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, recently reported that he learned from Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei that more than 80,000 migrants, primarily from Venezuela, are making their way to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Giammattei also said he attempted to contact the White House about the influx of migrants but was unable to get through.
The news comes as the Biden Administration prepares for the end of Title 42 on May 11. Title 42 is a public health order that has been in place since 2020 to quickly expel hundreds of thousands of migrants due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once the order ends, many believe that migrants will be granted entry into the United States. However, the Biden Administration has warned that those who enter the country illegally will face stiff penalties and are encouraged to use expanded legal pathways of entry.
To prepare for the influx of migrants, the Biden Administration announced a "targeted enforcement operation" in El Paso, Texas to process and possibly deport illegal immigrants.
Fox News reported that illegal immigrants who were camped on the sidewalks in downtown El Paso were woken up by authorities and given pamphlets urging them to turn themselves in to CBP. Despite the warnings, many are still determined to enter the United States illegally.
The Biden Administration has also deployed 1,500 troops to the border and has established migrant processing centers across Latin America. Additionally, a deal was made for Mexico to take back non-Mexican illegal immigrants.
The Department of Homeland Security has also announced the distribution of $332 million in funding to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and local governments to help migrants who are released from custody.
Despite the warnings, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has repeatedly said that the border is not open and that those who try to enter the United States illegally could face consequences such as re-entry bans and criminal prosecution.
The influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border is likely to continue as the expiration of Title 42 approaches. It remains to be seen how the Biden Administration will deal with this issue as the deadline approaches.