On Monday evening’s NBC Nightly News, they finally ran a segment on the rapidly deteriorating situation on the US/Mexico border which the Biden administration has allowed to remain open. In stunning candor for anchor Lester Holt, he announced at the top of the segment that according to border patrol officials “more migrants crossed into the U.S. in March than any other month since records were kept.” Afterwhich, Holt reported that once the Biden administration lifts Title 42, the surge at the southern border will only get worse.
Reporting from the ground in McAllen, Texas correspondent Julia Ainsley revealed that according to border patrol officials “a record 221,000 migrants crossed into the U.S. last month” and local officials warn those numbers “could soon double” if Title 42 is lifted.
Proof of this is that the “Department of Homeland Security estimates more than 170,000 migrants are waiting in Mexico, planning to cross when Title 42 is lifted” on May 23.
Yet it could get worse, according to Hidalgo County, Texas Sheriff Eddie Guerra who Ainsley interviewed:
AINSLEY: Sheriff Eddie Guerra says he's been told by border patrol to have his officers on standby in case the ports of entry are overrun.
GUERRA: We're talking about deputies dressed in their riot gear with their shields and their helmets and batons to keep the crowd at bay.
Ainsley accurately observed that “the Biden administration is facing bipartisan criticism of its immigration policy” which has seen “1.7 million illegal border crossings last year, an all-time record.”
Wanting to provide both sides of the story, Ainsley interviewed a Honduran family who supports lifting Title 42 because one woman was raped in a migrant shelter while she was waiting to enter the United States.
Ainsley ended her report by revealing that “a group of Texas sheriffs is urging Congress to intervene to keep” Title 42.
To read the transcript of this segment click “expand”:
NBC Nightly News
4/18/2022
7:09:06 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: At the southern border, officials revealing more migrants crossed into the U.S. in March than any other month since records were kept. This as authorities brace for a massive surge after the Biden administration lifts a border restriction known as Title 42. Julia Ainsley has late details.
JULIA AINSLEY: Tonight, urgent warnings from the border with the border patrol releasing these new images, saying a record 221,000 migrants crossed into the U.S. last month. Local officials expect that could soon double.
JEFF JOHNSTON (MCALLEN, TEXAS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER): Numbers like that would be completely overwhelming to our community.
AINSLEY: The surge is expected after the Biden administration decided to end a COVID border restriction called Title 42. The Department of Homeland Security estimates more than 170,000 migrants are waiting in Mexico, planning to cross when Title 42 is lifted May 23rd.
What do you need from the Biden administration between now and May 23rd?
JOHNSTON: Plans would be helpful. Commitment for additional funds.
AINSLEY: Migrants who cross through the Rio Grande valley come through this bus station in downtown McAllen, and officials here worry that if the numbers get too high, it could overwhelm the bus station, the shelters, leaving people with nowhere to go and sleeping on the street.
EDDIE GUERRA (HIDALGO COUNTY TEXAS SHERIFF): We're asking them to reconsider, you know, lifting the Title 42.
AINSLEY: Sheriff Eddie Guerra says he's been told by border patrol to have his officers on standby in case the ports of entry are overrun.
GUERRA: We're talking about deputies dressed in their riot gear with their shields and their helmets and batons to keep the crowd at bay.
AINSLEY: The Biden administration is facing bipartisan criticism of its immigration policy with 1.7 million illegal border crossings last year, an all-time record. But at a McAllen migrant shelter, we met a Honduran family who supports lifting Title 42, saying it keeps migrant waiting in dangerous conditions in Mexico. Ava and her husband told us she became a victim of rape.
TRANSLATOR: The same person who offered her the job took advantage of her, abused her, and that was how the rape happened.
AINSLEY: Migrant advocates say Ava's story is not uncommon and that Title 42 should end. But tonight a group of Texas sheriffs is urging Congress to intervene to keep it. Lester?
