President Joe Biden has warned of chaos at the US-Mexico border as migrants rush to cross before Covid era rules change and four suspected cartel members were gunned down by police at a key crossing.
Biden has said his administration was working to make the change orderly. “But it remains to be seen,” he told reporters. “It’s going to be chaotic for a while.”
Gunfire erupted yesterday at the Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge at around 1.30pm local time between police and suspected cartel members.
Hidalgo Police Chief Romero Rodriguez confirmed four people died at the crossing between Reynosa and the city of Pharr in Texas.
Police said they believe those confronting the police had cartel connections.
This comes as thousands of migrants made their way across cartel-ridden territory to get across the border before pandemic-related asylum restrictions expire today.
Many of them are fearing whatever new policy comes in will make it far more difficult to gain entry into the United States.
And officials fear the murderous cartels will exploit the situation - and migrants - and slip people into the US in the chaos.
The administration says it has introduced new legal pathways into the US, giving 30,000 people a month from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela the chance to enter if they apply online with a financial sponsor and enter through an airport.
The violence and sheer number of migrants at the border have been leapt on by Biden's Republican rivals.
Republican speaker Kevin McCarthy today wrote on Twitter: "President Biden's policies have sent a message to the world - including the cartels: 'the border is open.'"
Few places live up to the "chaos" warned of by Biden more than Tamaulipas state, in the North-Eastern border region of Mexico.
It was there at the Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge that the barrage of gunfire erupted yesterday. In nearby Matamoros, across the Rio Bravo from Brownsville, Texas, a steady stream of migrants arrived before stripping down and wading into the river.
One man was seen trying to cross holding a baby in an open suitcase on his head.
Biden has said he will send 1,500 troops to the border, in response to fears a wave of people will try to cross when Covid-19 border restrictions lift.
Around El Paso, Major Sean Storrud of the Texas National Guard said his troops have built 17.4 miles (28 kilometres) of wire barriers in an effort to reduce massive crossings and have explained to people the consequences of crossing illegally.
“The migrants don’t really know what’s going to happen,” Major Storrud said.
US officials have used Title 42 of a public health law to expel migrants with no chance at asylum 2.8 million times since March 2020 on the grounds of preventing the spread of Covid-19.
They are ending later this week and the US is putting into place a set of new policies that will clamp down on illegal crossings while offering migrants a legal path to the United States if they apply online through a government app, have a sponsor and pass background checks.
The Biden administration has said it is ready to deal with whatever happens.
The Border Patrol stopped about 10,000 people on Tuesday, one of its busiest days ever, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
On Wednesday, the Homeland Security Department announced a rule to make it extremely difficult for anyone who travels through another country, like Mexico, to qualify for asylum.
It also introduced curfews with GPS tracking for families released in the US before initial asylum screenings.
Fearing a closing door for getting into the US, people are doing everything they can to get across the border.
On the US side of the river, they put on dry clothing and try pick their way through concertina wire.
Many surrendered to authorities, hoping to be released to stay legally while pursuing their cases in backlogged immigration courts, which takes years.
William Contreras of Venezuela said Title 42 was favourable to people of his wracked South American country, having heard that many before him were released in the United States.
“What we understand is that they won’t be letting anyone else in,” said Contreras’ friend, Pablo, who declined to give his last name because he planned to cross the border illegally. “That’s the reason for our urgency to cross through the border today.”
Miguel Meza, head of migrant programs for Catholic Relief Services, which has 26 migrant shelters in Mexico, estimates there are about 55,000 migrants in border cities across from the United States. More arrive daily from the south, as well as migrants expelled by the US back to Mexico.
Although the bulk of migrants end up in border cities, many go further afield.
Denver began seeing well over 100 migrants a day arrive on buses last week, activating an emergency operations centre. The city is scrambling for shelter space.
“The numbers are overwhelming,” said Alan Salazar, chief of staff to Mayor Michael Hancock.
Mr Salazar estimated about 9,000 migrants have passed through Denver since late fall, when the city suddenly became a popular stop for Venezuelans and others.
