Surrender or be deported? The dilemma of countless migrants gathered in El Paso

With two days to go before Title 42 comes to an end, El Paso is receiving a renewed influx of migrants. They have been gathering in the Texan city for days waiting to know if they will have to return to their native country or if they will be able to stay in the nation.

The solution is often to turn oneself in to the authorities. Many times this allows them to enter into a legal process that can annul or delay their deportation, which is what many of the migrants cling to in order to avoid their removal from the country.

However, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a special operation in El Paso with the intention of processing and deporting, if necessary, the countless numbers of migrants who are camping in the streets.

Documents of dubious officialdom for migrants to turn themselves in to CBP

These immigrants assured media outlet Telemundo, that they had received a paper with instructions in Spanish. "If you have not done so, it is in your best interest to turn yourself in at the nearest Border Patrol station to be on the correct immigration path," the document states. After this, many of them decided to take heed and report to one of the CBP offices.

However, the format of the document raises doubts about its official status. It is also unknown where these instructions came from, which state that no migrant will have the right to asylum without first contacting the authorities. "All those who need to apply for shelter in the city and county of El Paso or other religious organizations must have been processed by CBP," the paper reads.

The Border Patrol is already aware of the existence of the document and wanted to clarify some questions to the migrants. According to Troy Miller, acting director of the agency, surrendering to the authorities does not prevent the deportation of migrants who do not meet the necessary conditions to stay in the country: