US border crisis: El Paso readies for rise in crossings as end of Title 42 looms

A record number of migrants were recently apprehended at the US-Mexico border in a single day, fuelling fears over what will happen in a few hours when a controversial immigration policy expires.

The rule, known as Title 42, was first implemented in 2020 and made it easier for the US to expel migrants back to Mexico using the coronavirus pandemic as justification.

But its looming expiration at 23:59 ET on Thursday (03:59 GMT on Friday) has triggered a rush to reach the border, and cities on both sides are readying for a rise in attempted crossings once it lapses.

President Joe Biden acknowledged earlier this week that the border would be "chaotic for a while" despite the best efforts of the authorities.

The potential impact is already clear in the Texas city of El Paso, which is seeing an increase in arrivals ahead of the rule change.

Migrants - many of them confused about the impending change - are sleeping rough in makeshift campsites on the city's streets. Several thousand were camped out earlier this week around a church in the city centre.