The Texas National Guard stationed in El Paso, Texas has installed more than two miles of border fencing and is planning to build more as more migrants gather at the border waiting for a final decision regarding Title 42, a spokesperson for the agency told CNN.
The move comes as tens of thousands of migrants are heading to the U.S.-Mexico border in hopes that the Trump-era immigration policy Title 42 will be lifted soon.
Title 42 was set in place in 2020 by the Trump administration to allow border agents to quickly expel migrants at the border without hearing their asylum cases in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The policy was set to end on December 21.
On December 19, however, Supreme Court Justice John Roberts put a temporary hold on the termination of Title 42 after 19 Republican-led states submitted an emergency request. The policy will remain in effect while the legal challenges surrounding it play out.
In December, El Paso declared a state of emergency after it received thousands of migrants seeking asylum, overwhelming local shelters and leaving thousands sleeping on the streets in freezing temperatures.
According to El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, the emergency declaration would free up resources to help accommodate and shelter the migrants.
"We wanted to make sure people are treated with dignity. We want to make sure everyone is safe," Leeser told reporters.
Additionally, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent 400 National Guard troops to the city to assist in dealing with the crossing of undocumented migrants.
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