The new regulation, which becomes effective on Thursday, will deny asylum to most migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas outlined new regulation amid a surge of migrants at the southern border with Mexico.

This is due to the COVID-era health restrictions known as Title 42 expiring this week.

The new regulation, which becomes effective on Thursday, will deny asylum to most migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, a key part of President Joe Biden’s immigration enforcement plan.

“The rule presumes that those who do not use lawful pathways to enter the United States are ineligible for asylum. It allows the United States, it allows us, to remove individuals who do not establish a reasonable fear of persecution in the country of removal.”

Mayorkas said the new rule would mean harsher consequences for illegal border crossers, including a five-year ban from the U.S. if they do not qualify for asylum.

“Crossing irregularly is against the law and those who are not eligible for relief will be quickly returned.”

Mayorkas also called on Congress to fix what he called a “broken” immigration system, saying lawmakers failed to provide funds requested by the Biden administration for border agents and facilities.

“I cannot overemphasise that our current situation is the outcome of Congress leaving a broken, outdated immigration system in place for over two decades, despite unanimous agreement that we desperately need legislative reform.”

Migrants have been amassing in Mexico this week and those who have already crossed into the U.S. are straining border cities.

“I’m like in limbo. Let’s see what happens,” Colombian migrant Yovani Arias said while waiting to cross in the Mexican city of Tijuana. “I hope to be able to pass to the United States because I have a son there, he’s 18 years old and I want to be with him.”

“This time, we were trying to cross illegally because we previously turned ourselves in to the Border Patrol, and they didn’t process us,” Venezuelan migrant Luis Rivero said. “They didn’t call our contacts and families in the United States.

“On May 11th, things are about to change. We will no longer be able to enter in the same way. It will be stricter.”

“I understand that they will modify Title 42, which will be replaced by Title 8, but I am not clear what the new restrictions will be. It still has us pretty confused,” Venezuelan migrant Romario Solano said.

“Will it be easier? I doubt it because we know that as migration has increased, tougher measures have been taken.”