The Title 42 policy, enacted during President Donald Trump's administration in 2020, states that the federal authorities can prevent migrants from illegally entering the US and seeking asylum if they determine that doing so would prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Title 42 is scheduled to be suspended on Wednesday, but earlier in the day, the US Supreme Court issued an order to temporarily block Joe Biden's administration from ending it.
"Approximately 400 Soldiers from the Texas National Guard have landed in El Paso to assist in the anticipated mass migration pending the expiration of Title 42. Soldiers will assist in deterring illegal migrants crossing from Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, into the United States," Texas Military Department said on social media.
On Saturday, the mayor of the Texas border city of El Paso, Oscar Leeser, declared a state of emergency over concerns about the city's ability to handle an anticipated influx of migrants after the expected lifting of Title 42.
In October, the US Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 230,000 undocumented migrants arriving at the US's southern border.