Title 42, the rule that allowed the expulsion of migrants who cross the border between the US and Mexico, expires

The controversial Title 42, the rule that in the United States allowed the expulsion of migrants for reasons of public health, has come to an end this Thursday at 9:59 p.m. local time in El Paso (Texas), where local, state and feds have raced against the clock to prepare for a greater flow of people.

Imposed during the Administration of former President Donald Trump, praised by Republicans, reviled by human rights activists and maintained by the Government of Democrat Joe Biden, despite criticism from his own party, his uprising has sparked rumors and a new political battle between progressives and conservatives.

In front of gate number 42 of the border fence between Mexico and the United States, about 15 kilometers east of the town of El Paso (Texas), calm reigned. On the north side of the fence, dozens of journalists remained posted as well as several Border Patrol agents.

To the south of the five and a half meter high wall, out of sight, some wait, between the road and the Rio Grande, to be processed and transferred to the centers managed by the authorities.

At 3:15 p.m. the operation of the border agents began, transferring the most vulnerable migrants, especially minors, in a bus and several vans. The head of the Border Patrol at the national level, Raúl Ortiz, pointed out that the processing and transfer operation would last 24 hours.

A border agent present next to the door confirmed that the transfer will continue and insisted that the priority had been to take the children, although he added that “the temperature is mild and it will not pose a danger to those who are still waiting.”

“Starting tonight, people who arrive at the border without using legal avenues will be deemed ineligible for asylum.. We stand ready to prosecute and humanely remove those who do not have a legal basis to remain in the US,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. “Don't believe the lies of human traffickers. La frontera no está abierta”, advirtió.

From this moment on, Title 8, the norm that has historically governed migration in the United States, will be applied to refugees who enter the country.. In addition, the Government of President Joe Biden has announced new measures that restrict access to asylum applications at the border with Mexico.

These new measures consider migrants who cross the border irregularly and who have not requested protection in a third country during their journey to the US “unfit” to request asylum.

However, from the most ultra-conservative sector of the Republican Party, information has spread that the lifting of Title 42 supposes, in practice, a policy of open doors to migration.

“While President Biden opens the floodgates to more illegal immigration, Texas resists,” insisted the governor of this border state, Greg Abbott, this afternoon.

The Army will support the surveillance work with 1,500 soldiers, the state has sent reinforcements from the National Guard and the city of El Paso, for example, has set up 4,500 beds to receive refugees who have passed the police screening and has fully collaborated with the security agencies to evict a migrant camp that was set up a few days ago around a church in the center of the city.