Law enforcement is sweeping the streets of El Paso, Texas, for thousands of illegal immigrants camped in the city.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a press release on Monday evening announcing a “targeted enforcement operation” taking place in El Paso ahead of the repeal of Title 42, a Trump-era health order that has allowed border agents to immediately expel illegal aliens from the country.
“Immigration enforcement agents will process individuals for vetting and placement into Title 42 expulsion or Title 8 removal proceedings, as applicable,” CBP said, according to The Washington Examiner. “Noncitizens who pose a threat to national security or public safety will be transferred to ICE for detention.”
The operation comes as thousands more migrants are expected to cross the border from Mexico into El Paso after Title 42 is repealed. El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser previously estimated that up to 15,000 migrants could be in Ciudad Juárez, right across the border from El Paso, preparing to enter the U.S. when Title 42 expires on Thursday.
About 2,500 migrants are living on the streets of El Paso, according to the Examiner.
Some Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were reportedly frustrated with how the El Paso operation is being handled.
“I continue to hear from frustrated Border Patrol & ICE contacts who are in disbelief that DHS/CBP announced in a press release last night that they were going to run an enforcement operation in El Paso today targeting gotaways/evaders camping on streets,” Fox News reporter Bill Melugin said. “Lost element of surprise.”
“They tell me you announce the RESULTS of an enforcement operation in a press release, not the PLAN. Our team on the ground in El Paso tell me much of the migrant population cleared out before the operation this morning, after the press release went out,” he added.
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They tell me you announce the RESULTS of an enforcement operation in a press release, not the PLAN. Our team on the ground in El Paso tell me much of the migrant population cleared out before the operation this morning, after the press release went out.
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) May 9, 2023
Many federal immigrant holding facilities and NGO centers are already at capacity or overcrowded. Eight of nine sectors along the U.S. southern border are overwhelmed days before Title 42 is scheduled to expire, according to NewsNation’s Ali Bradley.
NEW: There are more than 27,000 migrants in CBP capacity this morning according to sources.
These are unprecedented numbers—8 of 9 sectors are overwhelmed and exceeding capacity.
I’m told when capacity numbers hit 29,000 agents from the northern and coastal sectors will be… pic.twitter.com/JyIkeswWiI
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) May 9, 2023
Immigration officials have seen a steady surge in illegal migration in the weeks leading up to Title 42’s expiration. Border Patrol chief Raul Ortiz reported on Monday that Border Patrol averaged nearly 9,000 migrant apprehensions per day and tallied over 7,000 gotaways, illegal immigrants who were seen entering the U.S. but could not be apprehended.
Past 72 Hours…
– 26,382 Apprehensions
– 7,399 Approx. Gotaways
– 164 lbs. Marijuana
– 83 lbs. Meth
– 66 lbs. Cocaine
– 11 lbs. Fentanyl
– 5 lbs. Heroin
– $12,200 Siezed
– 1 Firearm
– 3 Sex Offenders
– 1 Wanted Felon
– 1 Gang MemberGreat work over the weekend! pic.twitter.com/OsoEoulOO8
— Chief Raul Ortiz (@USBPChief) May 8, 2023