Global Courant 2023-05-10 04:43:21
R-Texas U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales says he learned from Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei that more than 80,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, are headed for the U.S.-Mexico border ahead of Title 42 Thursday expires.
President Giammattei also said he tried to call the White House about this, but no one answered his calls.
News of the exodus comes as several migrants continue to stream along the border leading up to the end of Title 42 on May 11.
CBP, ICE START ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES IN EL PASO AS MIGRANTS INCREASE BEFORE END OF TITLE 42
Title 42 is a public health order in effect since 2020 to rapidly deport hundreds of thousands of migrants due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once the order expires, large numbers of migrants are expected to arrive at the border, believing they have a better chance of being allowed into the US, although the Biden administration has said this is not true.
An illegal border crossing in Brownsville, Texas. Officials are bracing for an increase in crossings following the expiration of Title 42. (Fox news)
The president and his team have warned that penalties will be tougher for those entering the country illegally, and they are encouraged to use extensive legal avenues instead.
FOX NEWS FOOTAGE OF HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS CROSSING TEXAS AS THE END OF TITLE 42 APPROACHES
But it hasn’t stopped migrants from illegally sneaking into the US for freedom.
On Monday, the Biden administration announced it was launching a “targeted enforcement operation” in El Paso, Texas, to process and potentially deport illegal immigrants.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATOR WARNS MIGRANTS WHO ENTER ILLEGALLY ‘WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL’ AS FEARS OF POST TITLE 42 SURGE
The operation was to be conducted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and officers at one of the border hotspots for migrant crossings.
On Tuesday morning, illegal immigrants camped out on the sidewalks in downtown El Paso told Fox News they were awakened by authorities and handed pamphlets urging them to turn themselves in to CBP.
A man told Fox News that the person who handed him a pamphlet had a badge and a gun. However, that was not enough to frighten the man. He even told Fox News, “I’m not going to turn myself in.”
Migrants also line up along the border in Brownsville, Texas, nearly 800 miles south of El Paso.
TILLIS, SINEMA INSTALL BILL TO CONTINUE DEPLOYMENT OF MIGRANTS AFTER END OF TITLE 42
One video shows a group of several hundred migrants crossing the border illegally, with more on the way.
Last week, the Biden administration announced the deployment of 1,500 troops to the border. It also announced the creation of migrant processing centers across Latin America and a deal for Mexico to take back non-Mexican illegal immigrants.
The Department of Homeland Security announces the distribution of $332 million in funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local governments to help migrants released from custody.
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Along with these additions, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas continues to say the border is not open, stressing that migrants could face consequences such as entry bans and criminal charges if they enter the US illegally after Thursday.
Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
Bill Melugin currently serves as the national correspondent for FOX News Channel from its Los Angeles bureau.
