New border surge has already begun

The surge of unlawful immigrants has already begun on the U.S.-Mexico border, the place brokers in southern Texas apprehended 2,300 migrants on Friday morning.

Analysts had warned of a brand new surge subsequent week when the Title 42 border expulsion energy ends together with different pandemic emergency powers. But Homeland Security officers on Friday mentioned they’re already seeing elevated flows of individuals into southern Texas, and have been for a few weeks.

“I think that there is no question that this is going to be extremely challenging,” Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas mentioned on the border, the place he’s on a two-day journey to evaluation preparations.

Most of the brand new surge are Venezuelans, and Mr. Mayorkas mentioned he couldn’t pinpoint why they got here proper now.

Venezuelans had been successful story in latest months after Mr. Mayorkas and President Biden introduced a “parole” program to attempt to entice unlawful immigrants to use for a free move earlier than displaying up on the border. Those that didn’t apply forward of time are imagined to be rapidly ousted again to Mexico.

A reporter on Friday challenged Mr. Mayorkas, saying that they had encountered Venezuelans who’d swum the Rio Grande and entered illegally and who have been already launched onto the streets in southern Texas. The reporter mentioned they have been single adults, which suggests they shouldn’t have certified for any household loophole or different exception.

Mr. Mayorkas insisted his course of was working nonetheless.

And he mentioned smugglers are spreading false narratives in regards to the border, making an attempt to entice individuals to pay to come back.