Migrants camp at the US-Mexico border ahead of the expiration of the Unites States' Title 42 policy. (Christian Chavez/AP photo))
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A report from CNN
By Kimone Witter
Jamaicans are among thousands of migrants who have gathered at the US-Mexico border hoping to get asylum ahead of the expiration of a pandemic era border restriction.
Title 42 is a Trump administration policy that allowed the government to quickly turn away certain migrants at the Texas border, originally with the aim of stopping the spread of COVID-19.
It will end on Thursday along with the COVID-19 public health emergency status in the US.
Now, the United States is bracing for a surge of migrants that officials fear will exacerbate an already challenging humanitarian crisis at the southern border.
CNN has been speaking with migrants, including Jamaicans, since last week who have been sharing their experience waiting at the border.
A Jamaican, 24-year-old Demario Jones, explained his reasons for leaving the country and the dangers of the illegal crossing through Mexico.
"We've been here three days already. It's difficult because we don't have anything to eat, we haven't taken any baths and it's very hot and it's very cold in the night," he told the reporter, adding that the journey through Mexico was "very risky" and "it cost a lot of money to get here".
The young man, who travelled with his mother and others, said he was forced to flee Jamaica because of violence and the killing of his father.
Last month, Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith said a number of Jamaicans have been using the Central American countries of Belize, Panama and Mexico as routes to illegally enter the United States and other countries.
She called for Jamaicans to rethink using the Central American routes as this will negatively affect travel for legitimate reasons.
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