Border Patrol as prepared as it can be for border restriction's end, Tucson chief says
The chief patrol agent of Tucson’s Border Patrol Sector said Monday that the agency is “incredibly well prepared” for the end of a pandemic-era border restriction days before it’s expected to expire.
John Modlin, chief patrol agent of the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector, detailed how the agency is preparing Monday at an event at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. While Modlin underscored the Border Patrol’s readiness for the end of Title 42, he described its sunset as “concerning” and said capacity is strained at Arizona Border Patrol holding facilities.
“It's hard to understand what's coming at us,” Modlin said. “I think we're as prepared as we can be for it.”
Title 42 has been used to rapidly expel migrants arriving at the nation’s borders nearly 2.8 million times for over three years. Title 42 is expected to expire at 9 p.m. on Thursday.
U.S. officials are estimating migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border to increase to 10,000 per day when the restriction lifts.
Arizona response: How will Arizona respond to Title 42 end? Gov. Hobbs gives preview, many questions remain
Border detention centers have already exceeded their capacity with more than 20,500 migrants in CBP custody as of April 29, according to CNN. The number of detained people fluctuates throughout the day.
Government representatives from Mexico and Guatemala, alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, warned of the dangers of crossing the Arizona-Mexico border irregularly as temperatures rise and Title 42 ends.
“As we approach the summer months and as Title 42 is about to end, I cannot think of a more appropriate time to talk about the dangers of illegal immigration,” Modlin said.
Arizona will be part of the second wave of military personnel to be deployed to the southern border to help alleviate the workload of Border Patrol agents, Modlin said.
President Joe Biden announced he would be sending 1,500 troops to the border to work on administrative tasks and free up Border Patrol agents to focus on field work. The Army and Marine Corps troops will first be deployed to El Paso, Texas, but will be moved to different areas as needed.
Biden sends troops: Arizona officials cheer Biden for sending troops to Mexico border while advocates blast him
Arizona officials have expressed frustrations with the lack of information and planning details released by the administration regarding the troop deployment. There are already about 180 Arizona National Guard soldiers supporting border counties, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said Monday in a news conference.
The Tucson Sector Border Patrol recently instituted civilian processing coordinators who will help put more agents back out in the field, Modlin said.
Modlin attributed the strained facility space to a sharp uptick in year-over-year migrant apprehensions.
There have been 146, 301 migrant encounters by Border Patrol in the Tucson sector so far in fiscal year 2023, which began in October, according to CBP data. Encounters increased by about 19% from the same time last year, per CBP data.
“Capacity is challenged for sure,” Modlin said.
The Border Patrol was not “sufficiently prepared” to handle an increase in processing and placement burdens once Title 42 is lifted, according to a September 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General.
The Border Patrol’s resources and infrastructure might not be able to sustain an increase in detainee numbers after Title 42 expires, which could result in overcrowding and longer detention times, the report found.
What to expect: When does Title 42 end? Here's what to expect at the border as the restriction goes away
Despite the challenges, Modlin maintained that Border Patrol is ready for the end of the border restriction because of the “incredible” relationships that the agency has built with Arizona counties, municipalities and non-governmental organizations.
Border Patrol and other agencies have also surged resources to the sector, including transportation assets, Modlin added.
The sector has one soft-sided processing facility for family groups and unaccompanied minors near the Tucson International Airport. Modlin said he’s unsure if they’ll need to build another one but added that there’s enough space available.
The facility would take about two weeks to three weeks to set up, if needed.
“We have dealt with surges before; this will be a surge,” Modlin said.
“I think the difference this time is that we're more prepared for it because we've been on the edge of this happening for a while.”
Have a news tip or story idea about the border and its communities? Contact the reporter at josecastaneda@arizonarepublic.com or connect with him on Twitter @joseicastaneda.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson Border Patrol chief details preparations days before Title 42's end
