Immigration agencies could run out of money by midsummer if there are significant spikes in immigration like projections once Title 42 is raised next month.
President Joe Biden is preparing to ask Congress for more funds to cover a potential shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars, administration officials said, according to NBC News.
Internal projections indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations will be completely dry by mid-July.
July 2021 was the month with the highest number of southern border crossings with CBP arresting 213,593 immigrants in that month alone. That record was only topped last month when figures for March 2022 showed the rate of encounters rose in two decades to 221,303 from 165,894 the month before.
National Border Patrol Board Chairman Brandon Judd told DailyMail.com that the Border Patrol decided to start sending migrants from the Northern Triangle back to their countries of origin rather than back to Mexico.
The use of Title 42 has helped prevent illegal transit during the pandemic by returning immigrants to Mexico, but the power immigration agencies typically use falls under Title 8.
The problem with the Title 8 asylum process, Judd told DailyMail.com, is that “everyone knows how to game the system.”
“Everyone knows that all you have to do is pretend you have a fear,” he added.
Migration agencies could run out of money as soon as early July if Title 42 is lifted next month. Pictured: Customs and Border Protection employees struggle with an asylum seeker from Russia in El Paso, Texas on April 14, 2022
Last month reached a new high of illegal immigrants crossing with CBP encountering 221,303 immigrants. It was a new high as of July 2021, when concerns reached 213,593.
Once Title 42 is lifted on May 23, experts warn, the number of crossovers could at least triple to 18,000 encounters each day.
Title 42 was issued by former President Donald Trump to allow border officials to immediately expel immigrants who arrive at the US southern border without hearing their asylum claims in the midst of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The policy has remained in place through the change of administration to Biden, and has even been defended by the current administration in court.
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was on track to lift the policy by late May, sending Republicans into a frenzy over already-increasing illegal immigration numbers.
Many Democrats also oppose lifting the rule, claiming there is no safety in place to suppress immigration without Title 42 in place.
A report released Tuesday evening indicates that Biden is considering delaying the end of Title 42 after coming under mounting pressure from Republicans and within his own party to keep the border policy in place.
Many have pointed out Biden’s hypocrisy by considering appealing the decision to end air travel authorizations while ending the pandemic-era policy that kept the southern border safer.
While most migrants arrive from Central America – a new influx is coming from Ukraine as asylum seekers flee violence from Russia
If approved, the funding will be used for transportation, medical care, and beds at Border Patrol facilities. Pictured: A Central American immigrant is searched by a Border Patrol agent after entering the United States in Dona Ana County, New Mexico on July 15, 2021
“Washington’s double standards know no bounds,” Florida congresswoman Kat Kamack wrote on Twitter, referring to the two separate policies.
Washington Representative Dan Neuhouse tweeted on Tuesday: “It is hypocritical for the Biden administration to lift Title 42 authority — on the grounds that the pandemic is over — while extending mask mandates in the name of said pandemic.”
Sen. Bill Haggerty of Tennessee said it was an example of the Biden administration’s desire to “have its cake and eat it too.”
Biden has faced mounting pressure to end the policy from progressives and immigration advocates who have claimed it is no longer needed – but now some of his party’s base is calling for it to be kept in place until the US public health emergency is lifted.
CBP and ICE are already experiencing burnout, as they claim staff are being redirected from the field to handling and changing diapers at processing and detention centers.
Although more soldiers are needed on the ground, immigration agencies are also calling for more money as it is set to run out if Title 42 ends next month.
If the administration asks Congress for more money for the border, it will be used for transportation, medical care and beds at Border Patrol facilities for newly arrived immigrants, officials told NBC.
Republicans are preparing to make any COVID-19 funding legislation dependent on tougher border policies, including keeping Title 42 in place.
“It’s not unreasonable for the Senate to consider these issues during the debate over any future application for federal COVID funds,” the Senate minority whip told Fox News.
“The pandemic cannot end at the same time for those trying to cross the border illegally, but it is so dangerous for everyone else that we need to pass emergency funds to respond to it,” the South Dakota senator added.
Senate Republican convention chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming also told Fox: “Ending Title 42 would be a disaster for the national security and humanity of Americans. It is the height of hypocrisy that this important public health tool be terminated at the very moment Democrats are looking for billions more for COVID.” A Biden administration cannot have it both ways and Republicans will fight to keep the Title 42 guarantees in place.
