Biden Administration Gears Up for Possible Border Surge Before Trump’s Return

According to two U.S. officials and conversations among immigrants on WhatsApp groups, the Biden administration is preparing for a potential spike in border crossings in the event of a Trump presidency. It is a result of more prospective immigrants voices concern that the next president Donald Trump will close the border.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met virtually with his top advisers, the heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection on Monday afternoon almost 36 hours before Trump announced his victory. During the meeting the participants expressed concerns about the potential impact of a Trump victory on border security.

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Two officials with intimate knowledge of the call said the inquiries asked of the group were not out of the ordinary. What operational readiness did the Department of Homeland Security have to handle a possible increase in immigration? Did ICE have enough beds to house immigrants before they were deported? Would the agencies be able to keep sending migrants who don’t meet the requirements for asylum on a quick track to deportation or would the volume overwhelm the system and compel agents to send people back to the United States with court dates that are years away?

The DHS has not yet observed an increase in the number of migrants travelling to the United States. However, the issue was brought up by CBP and ICE needed to be ready for the surge of last-minute migrant attempts that would be anticipated once Donald Trump takes office.

Trump pledged during the campaign to deport millions of unauthorised immigrants if elected.

The news of Trump’s stunning victory on Tuesday night sparked conversations among immigrants on WhatsApp, a popular platform used by smugglers to market their services to individuals in Central and South America who are interested in travelling to the United States. Several users expressed the same sentiment by saying at the moment to visit the United States quickly.