Several cities along the Texas-Mexico border have declared states of emergency as they prepare for the end of public health order Title 42.
Title 42 required non-essential travelers to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before entering the U.S.. The cities are concerned about a potential surge in cases as the order ends, particularly with the emergence of new variants, according to Houston Public Media. The declaration of states of emergency allows the cities to receive additional resources and funding to help mitigate the potential impact of the order's end.
"We know smugglers will seek to take advantage of the end of Title 42," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in an April 27 post on Twitter. "Their propaganda is false. Let me be clear - our border is not open and will not be open after May 11."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a fact sheet May 1, updating its plans for southwest border security measures.The fact sheet outlines the various steps being taken to ensure border security, including increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, deploying additional technology and equipment and enhancing cooperation with Mexico and Central American countries.
DHS is also working to improve the processing of asylum claims and to address the root causes of migration from Central America, the fact sheet reported.
"Migration is a hemispheric challenge that demands hemispheric solutions," Mayorkas added in another Twitter post.
In March, the U.S. Border Patrol encountered 162,317 individuals who entered the country between the southwest border ports of entry, which is up 25% from February. However, this is a seasonal increase that is less compared to previous years.
In March, total encounters along the southwest border, including non-citizens processed at ports of entry, were 191,900, up nearly 23% from February, Border Patrol reported. The majority of southwest land border encounters were single adults, and 46% of the total encounters were processed for expulsion under Title 42.
Encounters of unaccompanied children increased by 14%, with an average of 464 children in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody per day in March, according to the Border Patrol report. Meanwhile, encounters of family unit individuals increased by 38%.
CBP total encounters along the southwest border in March 2023 were down 14% from March 2022. The number of unique individuals encountered in March was 123,898, up 28% from February, the Border Patrol said.
