New internal documents from the Department of Health and Human Services show how quickly the number of child migrants crossing the border is surpassing the administration’s vast resources.
Driving News: During the week ending March 1, Border Patrol referred an average of 321 children per day to HHS custody, according to documents obtained by March Xios. Which is a weekly average of 203 in late January and early February – and only 47 per day during the first week of January.
- The same documents, which are on Tuesday, say that the shelter system %% is on business and is expected to reach its maximum level this month.
Meanwhile, some of President Biden’s top officials Those responsible for immigration policy are planning a trip to the US-Mexico border this week, sources told Axis.
- The influx of underage minors is a troubling problem for the new president and his policy and social welfare agencies.
- “No trip has been scheduled and the White House continues to work on locking in details and logistics for a possible visit,” White House spokesman Vedanta Patel told Axis.
- DHS and HHS spokesmen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Behind the scenes: H.H.S. Already opening overflow shelters and U.S. Has already moved in to speed up the separation of children for caretakers.
- In the week ending March 1, an average of 174 children received HHS daily. Were released from custody. According to documents, it was above the weekly average of 90 in late January and early February.
- However, according to additional documents reviewed by xxios, the number of migrants held in Border Patrol custody for more than three days is increasing almost daily.
- According to the first report by CNN, children and adolescents who cross the border without legal guardians are detained for more than three days under the Border Patrol facilities without legal guardians.
Big picture: This week, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorcas insisted the current situation is not yet a crisis. Regardless, it is clear that the number of children crossing the US-Mexico border could quickly surpass government and systems, similar to the crisis in 2014 and 2019.
- This trend comes at a time when the administration continues to use emergency public health orders to quickly deport migrants and some families – including asylum seekers.
- At the same time, Biden has reversed the Trump administration’s policy of quickly removing unused children from public health orders.
- Insiders who have provided Biden administrative documents expect to see an increase in family migration in the coming months as well.
What to watch: Internally, government officials sound the alarm. As previously reported by Xxios, the DHS expects a record number of child migrations this year.
- The HHSA has told the White House that it will need a capacity of 20,000 beds to accommodate them in a humane manner.
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