By Diya Jalan
According to preliminary data shared with Reuters, U.S. authorities recorded more than 171,000 migrants at the U.S. border with Mexico in March. This is the highest monthly total in over 2 decades.
The current total includes approximately 19,000 unaccompanied children and 53,000 family members. Single adults accounted for about 99,000 of the total.
The increase in children is due to Title 42, a COVID-19 health order used by both the Trump and Biden Administrations to stop migration during the pandemic, from which unaccompanied children are exempted. Biden exempted unaccompanied children from the said policy in February.
The high numbers are also likely due to the expectation that the Biden Administration is seeking to roll back Trump-Era “Remain in Mexico” policies.
Impact
The Biden Administration is currently attempting to house all newly arriving unaccompanied children, who cannot be sent back to their origin countries due to Title 42, in shelters. However, the shelter system has been overwhelmed, prompting emergency shelters to be opened; including convention centres in Dallas and San Diego.
Biden’s administration is also in discussions with Mexico to have them receive migrant families expelled by the US under Title 42. The US is placing pressure on Mexico to help stem the flow of migration to the US.
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