The Biden administration is preparing for a potential surge in migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January 2025. On Monday, Nov. 4, the day before voters headed to the polls, officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) held a virtual meeting to discuss how a Trump presidency could impact border security, NBC News reported.
The officials discussed contingency plans in case of a migration surge, including whether there are enough beds to house more migrants and what the process would look like for removing migrants who do not qualify for asylum.
“The fact remains: the United States continues to enforce immigration law, and migrants should use safe, lawful, and orderly pathways to come to the United States,” a CBP spokesperson said.
Immigrants are reportedly being told by smugglers via WhatsApp that now is the time to reach the U.S. southern border, as Trump plans to shut down the border upon taking office, according to the NBC report.
One migrant shelter official said the migrants in their facility were concerned before the election, uncertain about the fate of their CBP One app—an app developed by the Biden administration that allows migrants to apply for asylum before entering the U.S.
As of Wednesday, Nov. 6, a migrant caravan of about 3,000 people is heading toward the United States from southern Mexico.
That caravan has since dwindled by nearly half, as Trump’s victory has created uncertainty among those attempting the journey, according to Reuters.
Trump has vowed to shut down the border and deport migrants in mass numbers once he takes office.
