US expands migrant asylum slots to record levels, signaling commitment to legal immigration pathways

US authorities have expanded slots to seek asylum at land crossings with Mexico to 1,250 appointments a day, reflecting the commitment to continue to expand lawful options for migrants.
Demand has far outstripped supply from the Jan. 12 start, prompting many to consider crossing the border illegally or giving up.
The Biden administration is trying to funnel people to “legal pathways” like CBP One and parole for up to 30,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who apply online with a financial sponsor and arrive by air.
The expansion on Thursday was met with cautious optimism and mild indifference among some of the 150 people, mostly families with young children, camped on a sidewalk at a border crossing where Tijuana leads to San Diego, hoping U.S. officials admit them without a CBP One appointment.
Numbers of migrant encounters have dropped from the historic highs seen before the Title 42 public health order ended by as much as 70%.