While waiting for the end of the controversial Title 42, which took place at Thursday´s midnight, a large number of migrants, including entire families, gathered in the Mexican border in their hope of being able to apply for asylum.

The Title 42, which allowed for the quick removal of immigrants, gave way to another one known as Title 8, under which applications are being processed but which excludes those who did not call for protection in another country on their way to the United States.

Plus, those who cannot prove they qualify for a waiver to the rule will face deportation to their country of origin or to Mexico, as well as a five-year deportation from the United States.

According to Mayorkas, there are 24,000 Border Patrol personnel alongside thousands of troops and contractors to help manage the large influx of migrants.

In addition to the chaotic situation at the southern border, there is the confusion generated by a U.S. magistrate’s ruling issued on Thursday blocking part of the immigration policy planned to be applied starting today.

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell at the request of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, prevents the government from temporarily releasing migrants who enter the country illegally.

The President Joe Biden administration sought with such provision to avoid overcrowding in detention centers by momentarily releasing some asylum seekers on the condition that they inform the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.

As of Thursday, nearly 25,000 people were in Border Patrol facilities and tents despite the agency’s capacity to hold only a few thousand, Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said.

Because of the mounting problems, the Biden administration called for Wetherell to keep its parole system in place, even if only on an “emergency” basis.

The judge, however, did not budge, arguing that the new policy flouted a federal law requiring at least temporary detention for anyone crossing the border illegally.

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