According to interviews with migrants and charity workers in Mexico City, the Title 42 immigration policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, and as a result, thousands of illegal immigrants are expected to surge to the United States border. The Mexican government has provided visas to these migrants, allowing them to travel easily throughout the country. Many of them want to take advantage of the chaos caused by the change of immigration regulations and are willing to risk everything to reach the United States, including taking the dangerous train known as βla bestia.β The Department of Homeland Security has warned that smugglers are spreading disinformation to lure migrants and place a strain on the immigration system.
The end of Title 42 means that a stricter rule, Title 8, will be implemented, banning illegal immigrants who are caught crossing the border for up to five years. President Joe Biden has approved the deployment of 1,500 troops to the border to supplement Border Patrol resources for 90 days, and the DHS is launching a digital advertising campaign to counter the smugglers’ lies. In response to the end of Title 42, a bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation giving the Biden administration temporary expulsion authority for two years. Biden has expressed his willingness to work with Congress on border security.