US officials arrests over 200,000 migrants crossing Mexico border in March

United States law enforcement officials arrested nearly 210,000 individuals who attempted to cross the southern border in March. The figure is the highest so far in the presidency of Joe Biden so far.

When compared to March 2021 statistics released by the United States authorities, the number is much lower. Around 169,000 migrants were detained by border officials two months after Biden took office.

Also Read: Is Washington DC being stingy with Ukrainian refugees?

Officials from the Biden administration have said that such cases of illegal immigration may increase in the coming months as health officials will lift COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The order, known as Title 42, allows asylum seekers and other migrants to be rapidly expelled to Mexico to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to reports from Reuters.

According to the data provided by the United States Customs and Border Protection, the tally registered in March was topped by a monthly total recorded more than two decades ago, in February 2000.

While the influx at the United States– Mexico border is dominated by migrants from countries like Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador and Mexico, a fresh uptick may also be given by migrants coming from Ukraine and Russia.

Tijuana has suddenly become a final stop for Ukrainians seeking refuge in the United States, where they are drawn by friends and families ready to host them and are convinced the United States will be a more suitable haven than Europe.

Also Read: In South Texas, aging water system meets growing population

American officials began funneling Ukrainians earlier this month to a pedestrian crossing in San Diego that is temporarily closed to the public, hoping to process 578 people a day there with 24 officers, said Enrique Lucero, the city of Tijuana’s director of migrant affairs, Associated Press reported.

The administration set a refugee resettlement cap of 125,000 in the 12-month period that ends September 30 but accepted only 8,758 by March 31, including 704 Ukrainians. In the previous year, it capped refugee resettlement at 62,500 but took only 11,411, including 803 Ukrainians.