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A new migration policy is in operation along the southern border of the United States following the expiry of Covid-era restrictions, known as Title 42.

The new rules will penalise those crossing illegally with deportation and a ban on re-entering the US for at least five years. But they also provide for regional processing centres in Latin America.

Ahead of the transition there was a surge in numbers attempting the crossing. About 10,000 people were reportedly crossing the nearly 2,000-mile (3,218km) border each day - the highest levels on record.

Father Rafael Garcia is pastor of the Sacred Heart Parish, a Jesuit Church located a few blocks from the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas. They have been providing shelter to some of those who recently entered.

He told Newsday: 鈥淣inety plus percent are from Venezuela鈥� the currency has devalued so the official salary is five to ten dollars a month鈥� five to ten dollars a month doesn鈥檛 really get you much of anything.鈥�

(Picture: Shows immigrants walk through razor wire surrounding a makeshift migrant camp after crossing the border from Mexico on May 11, 2023 in El Paso, Texas. Credit: John Moore / Getty Images.)

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