As many as 50,000 migrants are waiting in Mexican shelters for a chance to cross the border, hoping to run out the clock on Title 42, the COVID-era rule limiting entry to the U.S., Axios reports. That's double the estimate from back in March, where there were early reports on the government's preparations for a "mass migration event." About 8,000 people are attempting to cross the southwest border daily, reflecting growing numbers of migrants from Cuba, Colombia, Haiti and Peru as well as traditional sources, including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico. Last week, a judge blocked the Biden administration's plans to end Title 42. Thousands of migrants are already gathered along the border, with many attempting to cross despite the May 20 ruling.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that "the U.S. Border Patrol already is managing numbers at historic levels due to large movements of people fleeing violence, corruption, poverty, climate change, and other hardships." He added that there could be an increase in numbers due to confusion over recent court orders and as smugglers continue to peddle misinformation to make a profit. The Border Patrol has had to release dozens of migrants directly into El Paso communities as non-governmental organizations who typically take in migrants have been at capacity. DHS officials are concerned about having enough funds to handle the number of people they are expecting to attempt to cross, and have been asking the White House for additional resources.