The Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States, Alejandro Mayorkas, toured the border between the United States and Mexico in South Texas on Tuesday, where he supervised the border response preparations, in the face of a possible increase in the migratory flow, due to the possible end of Title 42 .
During his visit to a migrant processing facility in Donna, Texas, he said the border challenge continues, but “our plan is underway and the results are compelling.”
“Today in this facility, instead of approximately 3,700 unaccompanied children, there are 334. Instead of a custody period of approximately 139 hours, they are here for approximately 24 hours,” added Mayorkas, during his visit to a reception center.
Currently, US authorities can quickly expel migrants to Mexico or other countries under a public health order known as Title 42 aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.
Speedy removals mean migrants can’t apply for asylum, but they also protect them from potential criminal charges, encouraging repeated attempts to cross the border.
Mayorkas and other top US officials in recent weeks have toughened the message justifying the reversal of Title 42, saying that deportations, which can include bans on re-entry, are more effective deterrents than quick removals.
“The border remains closed and, as part of our government effort, we are not only addressing the needs of unaccompanied children in accordance with the law,” Mayorkas said, adding that the current Administration is addressing other key elements.
Among them, the fight against groups that are dedicated to migrant smuggling that “exploit vulnerable children, families and vulnerable individuals, and that prioritize profits over people,” he said.
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that Title 42 is no longer necessary for health reasons and they have intended to end on May 23. But that termination has been temporarily blocked in federal court.
A Louisiana-based federal judge is expected to rule this week on whether to keep it blocked following a lawsuit brought by a coalition of states with Republican attorneys general.
Border Patrol Agents (CBP) arrested more than 234,000 migrants on the southern border in April, down slightly from March but still near all-time highs, according to government data.
* With information from Reuters and AP.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel YouTube and turn on notifications, or follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter e Instagram.