In the seven days prior to the end of Title 42 immigration policy, the US Border Patrol made an average of nearly 10,000 daily arrests of undocumented migrants, the agency’s chief, Raul Ortiz, reported in his weekly summary. During that period, a total of 67,759 arrests were made, while approximately 15,780 migrants managed to escape.
The figures reveal a gradual increase in detentions in recent weeks. In the May 7 weekly summary, Ortiz reported that 54,951 arrests and about 18,698 escapes were recorded, while a week earlier, 51,560 arrests and 16,985 escapes were counted.
The controversial Title 42, which allowed for the expedited removal of undocumented migrants based on the COVID-19 pandemic health emergency, officially expired at midnight last Thursday, giving way to the entry into force of Title 8.
Border Patrol officials indicated that, with the end of Title 42, apprehensions could reach 14,000 per day, but so far there has been no substantial increase in illegal entry into US territory.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that things are going as planned, although he noted that it would be some time before the effects of the changes in immigration policy would be seen.