Nearly 30,000 migrants detained before Title 42 ends

Over 29,000 migrants are currently in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody, with the expiration of Title 42 imminent. Art Del Cueto, with the CBP union, has described the situation as 'beyond catastrophic' and 'unsustainable.' The southern border saw more than 20,000 migrant encounters on Monday and Tuesday alone.

As Title 42 expires, the Biden administration has issued a new restriction on asylum seekers. Migrants must request refugee status in another country first before being eligible in the U.S. Those who secure an appointment with CBP via a proprietary app will be exempt from the new rule.

Migrants deemed ineligible will face a five-year ban from the U.S. President Biden acknowledged that temporary chaos would ensue. To address the issue, the State Department plans to open over 100 regional processing centers in Latin America for migrants applying to the U.S., aimed at slowing unlawful entry.

NBC News reports that the administration also intends to allow Customs and Border Protection to release some migrants without court dates to prevent facility overcrowding. Previously, migrants released were required to check in on a mobile app until they received a court date. Under the new policy, the app check-in is no longer necessary as long as they maintain contact with ICE.

The use of parole for certain migrants who have undergone strict national security and public safety vetting may be considered, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. Migrant cases will be assessed individually.

The U.S. has deployed hundreds of troops to the border to support CBP, without interacting directly with migrants. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that they believe they have a robust process to handle the situation after Title 42 lifts, despite Congress not addressing border-related issues.