U.S. seeks to shore up border as migrants gather ahead of end to Title 42

A young boy peers through the border wall as migrants gather between primary and secondary border fences in San Diego as the United States prepares to lift COVID-19 restrictions that have blocked migrants at the U.S.- Mexico border from seeking asylum since 2020 near San Diego, California, U.S., May 8, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The Biden administration and Texas state government are sending reinforcements to the U.S.-Mexico border to prepare for a possible increase in illegal immigration when COVID-19 restrictions known as Title 42 are set to end on Thursday.

Hundreds of specialized investigative agents and air marshals from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are being pulled from day-to-day duties to help with border management, sources said, leading to pushback from some employees who argue they are being reassigned to menial tasks.