EL PASO, Texas — In the waning hours of Title 42, the public health measure that enabled Border Patrol to expel illegal aliens from the border, The Daily Signal’s Mary Margaret Olohan and Tim Kennedy traveled to El Paso, Texas, and captured footage of comparative calm before the expected storm.

A Border Patrol agent told The Daily Signal that the El Paso sector has two processing centers, each set up with a capacity to house about 1,000 people, and officials intend to set up a third center by the end of June.

The agent said the average number of migrants crossing the border dropped from about 1,400 a day in April to just under 1,150 a day in May, but Border Patrol expects the number to increase after Title 42 ends.

The end of Title 42 will also bring more paperwork. Under the public health measure, implemented from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, Border Patrol could immediately expel illegal immigrants, but without Title 42, each migrant will receive an alien registration number, creating a new case with its own paperwork.

The agent said that various parts of the Department of Homeland Security have collaborated with Border Patrol in a whole-of-government approach to prepare for the expected onslaught of migrants.

Throughout the day, The Daily Signal witnessed immigrants crossing the border in large numbers.

UPDATE: Migrants continue to cross U.S. border at El Paso, flashing "thumbs up."

Via @MaryMargOlohan: pic.twitter.com/gzbLeUFvtG

— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) May 10, 2023

Drone footage captured law enforcement rounding up migrants after they crossed the border illegally.

🚨🚨 Another huge group of migrants crossing into the US from Mexico rounded up by law enforcement here in El Paso, TX. pic.twitter.com/OhhM49P0CH

— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) May 10, 2023

In less than 8 hrs we saw two groups of migrants, numbering in the hundreds, lining up at the same gate to cross the border #ElPaso #Title42 https://t.co/lwLQMF58Pn

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) May 10, 2023

Illegal immigrants crossed the border at gates, after which Border Patrol took them into custody.

EL PASO — This morning our reporters visted multiple gates on the border wall where they saw hundreds of migrants entering the country, then put on buses under Border Patrol supervision. pic.twitter.com/pGbmnL1Gv9

— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) May 10, 2023

Agents erected barbed wire along the border in river areas, to deter illegal crossings.

UPDATE: Barbed wire along southern border near El Paso, TX, recently set up by Texas DPS & National Guard, stretching for miles. pic.twitter.com/BflZeHe3rw

— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) May 10, 2023

Their preparations appeared to be a calm before the storm, as authorities expect a large influx of migrants after Title 42 expires.

Calm before the storm? U.S. border authorities now appear to be rapidly deploying barbed wire to prevent illegal aliens from entering other gates along the border in El Paso, Texas. pic.twitter.com/uFrdGSH5y4

— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) May 11, 2023

Authorities cleared an area where migrants had been congregating, urging the migrants to turn themselves in before Title 42 expires.

EL PASO – Authorities have largely cleared the area by Sacred Heart Church where we know many migrants were congregating. They were encouraged to turn themselves into authorities for processing into the US ahead of the end of Title 42. pic.twitter.com/EGfnAPsDnF

— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) May 10, 2023

Follow The Daily Signal, Mary Margaret Olohan, and Tim Kennedy on Twitter for live updates.

Mary Margaret Olohan reported from El Paso and Tyler O’Neil reported from Washington.

Copyright 2023 The Daily Signal