US Says Migrant Numbers Unexpectedly Fell in Recent Days
2023-05-16
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1The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden says the number of migrants crossing the southern U.S. border with Mexico has unexpectedly fallen.
2U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said border agents reported a 50 percent reduction in the number of migrants crossing the border since Thursday.
3On that day, public health emergency measures in the U.S. came to an end.
4Mayorkas spoke on national television Sunday. He told CNN:
5"The numbers we have experienced in the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42."
6Title 42 is the part of U.S. law that deals with public health.
7Measures in that law permit public health officials to limit or stop entry into the United States by people who are not citizens if a disease is spreading in the country.
8Myorkas credited criminal punishments for illegal migrants for the decrease in illegal entry.
9He said there were 6,300 encounters at the border on Friday and 4,200 on Saturday.
10But he warned that the new system has just started.
11The earlier rules were put in place under former President Donald Trump when the spread of COVID-19 created a public health emergency.
12Trump also put in place limits on migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.
13President Joe Biden told reporters in Rehoboth, Delaware, that he believed the border situation was "much better" than critics expected.
14The Biden administration is requiring migrants to plan a visit with immigration offices through an app.
15They can also seek protection in one of the countries they are passing through on their way to the U.S. border.
16Those who do not follow the process, and are caught, will not be permitted to try again for five years.
17Myorkas said: "There is a lawful, safe and orderly way to arrive in the United States.
18That is through the pathways that President Biden has expanded in an unprecedented way."
19Officials from communities near the U.S. border with Mexico say they had not seen the large numbers of migrants that they had feared would appear.
20However, in the weeks before the end of emergency powers, tens of thousands of migrants flooded border areas.
21Victor Trevino is mayor of Laredo, Texas. He said hospitals in his city were nearly full and an emergency declaration was in effect.
22It remains unclear if Congress will pass any new legislation on the issue.
23Republican Party members in the House approved legislation that would continue the building of a border wall and require asylum seekers to first request protection outside the U.S.
24But the Republican bill is unlikely to be taken up by the Senate which is controlled by the Democratic Party.
25I'm Mario Ritter Jr.
1The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden says the number of migrants crossing the southern U.S. border with Mexico has unexpectedly fallen. 2U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said border agents reported a 50 percent reduction in the number of migrants crossing the border since Thursday. 3On that day, public health emergency measures in the U.S. came to an end. 4Mayorkas spoke on national television Sunday. He told CNN: "The numbers we have experienced in the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42." 5Title 42 is the part of U.S. law that deals with public health. Measures in that law permit public health officials to limit or stop entry into the United States by people who are not citizens if a disease is spreading in the country. 6Myorkas credited criminal punishments for illegal migrants for the decrease in illegal entry. He said there were 6,300 encounters at the border on Friday and 4,200 on Saturday. But he warned that the new system has just started. 7The earlier rules were put in place under former President Donald Trump when the spread of COVID-19 created a public health emergency. Trump also put in place limits on migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. 8President Joe Biden told reporters in Rehoboth, Delaware, that he believed the border situation was "much better" than critics expected. 9The Biden administration is requiring migrants to plan a visit with immigration offices through an app. They can also seek protection in one of the countries they are passing through on their way to the U.S. border. Those who do not follow the process, and are caught, will not be permitted to try again for five years. 10Myorkas said: "There is a lawful, safe and orderly way to arrive in the United States. That is through the pathways that President Biden has expanded in an unprecedented way." 11Officials from communities near the U.S. border with Mexico say they had not seen the large numbers of migrants that they had feared would appear. However, in the weeks before the end of emergency powers, tens of thousands of migrants flooded border areas. Victor Trevino is mayor of Laredo, Texas. He said hospitals in his city were nearly full and an emergency declaration was in effect. 12It remains unclear if Congress will pass any new legislation on the issue. Republican Party members in the House approved legislation that would continue the building of a border wall and require asylum seekers to first request protection outside the U.S. But the Republican bill is unlikely to be taken up by the Senate which is controlled by the Democratic Party. 13I'm Mario Ritter Jr. 14Sarah Lynch and Tyler Clifford reported this story for Reuters. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. 15____________________________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17prior -adj. taking place earlier 18encounter -n. (specific to government agency) the detention of a noncitizen who cannot be permitted to enter the country 19app (application) -n. a computer program for a special purpose 20unprecedented -adj. not done or experienced before 21____________________________________________________________________ 22We want to hear from you. 23Here is how our comment system works: 24Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.