U.S. President Joe Biden. Photo: Google

PULSE NEWS MEXICO

After two years in office and much prodding from opposition leaders and border patrol agents alike, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Thursday, Jan. 5, that he will finally pay a visit to the U.S. border with Mexico.

Speaking during a press conference in Kentucky Thursday morning, Biden said that he will visit the southern border city of El Paso, Texas, on Sunday, Jan. 8, to meet with local officials and address enforcement operations ahead of the anticipated lifting of the U.S. covid-era Title 42 policy.

Biden said that he will make a short stop in El Paso on his way to attend the three-day North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS), which is due to open on Monday, Jan. 9.

Under the expected new policy, the Biden administration is expected to expand legal pathways to the United States for migrants from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua, while imposing new punishments for illegal entry.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is also expected to expand its use of expedited removals for people attempting to enter the United States illegally, sending them back to their country of origin and banning them from reentry for five years.

Meanwhile, thousands of undocumented migrants continue to flood across the border illegally in an attempt prior to the implementation of the new rules.

Last year, because of Biden’s ambiguous border policies, more than 2 million illegal immigrants crossed into the United States from Mexico.