12-05-2023, 03:54 PM
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65567132
[b]"Thousands of migrants have been rushing to the US-Mexico border just hours before a Trump-era policy that allowed for their swift removal is set to expire.[/b]
As the policy - known as Title 42 - nears its end, about 10,000 migrants have been crossing the nearly 2,000 mile (3,218km) border each day - record numbers nearly double the average seen just two months ago.
Ahead of the deadline, an uneasy calm has descended on the border town of El Paso, Texas, where makeshift migrant camps on the city's streets have largely been removed.
Still, local authorities and humanitarian organisations are bracing for what some fear may be a difficult-to-manage influx of migrants.
"We're stocking up and food and supplies as much as possible," said Nicole Reulet, marketing director of Rescue Mission El Paso, a local shelter that houses migrants. "Nobody really knows what to expect, or what the numbers will look like. It makes it hard for us to prepare."
To reduce overflow, officials were releasing migrants and telling them to report to an immigration office within 60 days.
Several migrants in El Paso told the BBC that they hurried to the border ahead of the policy change, unsure what the change would mean and confused by rumours and disinformation.
Among them were Jon Uzcategui and his girlfriend Esmaily, both 24 and from Venezuela, who said they were frustrated after multiple attempts to book an asylum appointment using a Customs and Border Patrol-run app - CBP One - failed.
Many, however, will face legal challenges. Those crossing illegally will be deported to their home country or Mexico, barred from re-entering the US for at least five years, and be "presumed ineligible for asylum", according to Customs and Border Protection.
Under Title 42, there were no such consequences.
"It's going to be a very large challenge for us," said Susan Goodell, the chief executive of El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, which has been feeding hundreds of migrants each day on the city's streets.
"We're preparing, to the best of our ability, to find the food that we need to feed people living on the street or in shelters," she said. "With the lifting of Title 42, we think it'll be a
short time before we start seeing a large number of migrants coming into the community again."
[b]"Thousands of migrants have been rushing to the US-Mexico border just hours before a Trump-era policy that allowed for their swift removal is set to expire.[/b]
As the policy - known as Title 42 - nears its end, about 10,000 migrants have been crossing the nearly 2,000 mile (3,218km) border each day - record numbers nearly double the average seen just two months ago.
Ahead of the deadline, an uneasy calm has descended on the border town of El Paso, Texas, where makeshift migrant camps on the city's streets have largely been removed.
Still, local authorities and humanitarian organisations are bracing for what some fear may be a difficult-to-manage influx of migrants.
"We're stocking up and food and supplies as much as possible," said Nicole Reulet, marketing director of Rescue Mission El Paso, a local shelter that houses migrants. "Nobody really knows what to expect, or what the numbers will look like. It makes it hard for us to prepare."
To reduce overflow, officials were releasing migrants and telling them to report to an immigration office within 60 days.
Several migrants in El Paso told the BBC that they hurried to the border ahead of the policy change, unsure what the change would mean and confused by rumours and disinformation.
Among them were Jon Uzcategui and his girlfriend Esmaily, both 24 and from Venezuela, who said they were frustrated after multiple attempts to book an asylum appointment using a Customs and Border Patrol-run app - CBP One - failed.
Many, however, will face legal challenges. Those crossing illegally will be deported to their home country or Mexico, barred from re-entering the US for at least five years, and be "presumed ineligible for asylum", according to Customs and Border Protection.
Under Title 42, there were no such consequences.
"It's going to be a very large challenge for us," said Susan Goodell, the chief executive of El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, which has been feeding hundreds of migrants each day on the city's streets.
"We're preparing, to the best of our ability, to find the food that we need to feed people living on the street or in shelters," she said. "With the lifting of Title 42, we think it'll be a
short time before we start seeing a large number of migrants coming into the community again."
in order to be old & wise, you must first be young & stupid. (I'm still working on that.)