LIVE UPDATES: The latest at the southern border following the end of Title 42

PHOENIX — Migrants rushed across the Mexico border Thursday in hopes of entering the U.S. in the final hours before pandemic-related asylum restrictions are lifted — a change that many feared could make it more difficult for them to stay.

Title 42 is set to end at 8:59 p.m. Arizona time Thursday, with officials expecting a large increase in migrant traffic.

Ahead of Title 42's expiration, several Arizona sheriffs vocalized their concern.

"The system is broken; there's a lot that needs to be fixed," said Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb.

Authorities will now rely more heavily on immigration law as defined under Title 8 of the U.S. Code. The law outlines processes for deportation and carries strict penalties, including five- and 10-year bans on reentry for those deported.

BIG DEVELOPMENTS:

• In the air with CBP agents over the border ahead of Title 42 ending
• Thousands wait along southern US border as end of Title 42 nears
• Arizona sheriffs concerned with end of Title 42

LATEST UPDATES:

12:50 p.m.

Republicans in the Arizona House have sent a letter to Governor Katie Hobbs urging her to send additional resources to the U.S., Mexico border in response to the expected surge of migrants, including the Arizona National Guard.

4:25 a.m.

Our crew in Yuma just saw another group with people of all ages just cross the border.

4:00 a.m. Friday

Our Nick Ciletti is back at the border, and already migrants are looking to cross the border to seek asylum after Title 42 restrictions have ended.

9:00 p.m.

United States Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas shared a video on Twitter saying, "Starting tonight, people who arrive at the border without using a lawful pathway will be presumed ineligible for asylum. We are ready to humanely process and remove people without a legal basis to remain in the U.S."

8:59 p.m.

Title 42 has lifted.

8:22 p.m.

Governor Katie Hobbs announced that Billy Kovacs will serve on special assignment as Arizona's Title 42 Coordinator June 30th. He will serve as the executive office's external point of contact for all things Title 42 and will coordinate efforts with local, federal, tribal, and non-governmental partners, according to a press release.

“As a continuation of my dedication to addressing the impending challenges Arizona will face with the end of Title 42, I am pleased to announce Billy Kovacs will serve as Arizona’s Title 42 Coordinator. Mr. Kovacs has a long history of public service, and I have personally witnessed his ability to leverage federal relationships to put Arizona in a position of strength and success. I have no doubt he will continue to do that in this new role.”

3:00 p.m.

The Mayor of Yuma and other officials held a news conference to discuss Title 42.

12:00 p.m.

Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) issued the following statement on the lifting of Title 42:

Enactment of Title 42 under the Public Health Service Act by the Trump administration has always been a nativist effort to stop the entry of migrants fleeing persecution and violence from their legal right to asylum under U.S. law and international obligations. Title 42 is not a lawful border policy.

While the Biden administration has given its best effort to prepare for the lifting of Title 42, it's clear they've fallen short. In speaking with Arizona officials and local communities along the border, it's evident that coordination from the federal government is lacking. While border communities have been assisting with the humanitarian needs, they desperately need additional resources to manage the lifting of Title 42. The latest troop deployments by President Biden and militarization are not the answer.

As Title 42 is lifted, it's critical that the Biden administration lead a centralized response in coordination with State and local governments and should immediately assign additional dedicated personnel to process people seeking protection at ports of entry. Congress must act now to surge funding for resources and personnel for administrative and humanitarian needs. Local organizations and localities cannot bear the brunt of cost and wait for reimbursement. We must provide humanitarian support to those helping individuals arriving at the border and ensure asylum seekers understand the next steps in the process and how to find support in their communities.

In the meantime, the Biden administration must use its authorities and take action to create additional legal immigration pathways, expand efforts like regional processing centers and work with hemispheric partners to address the root causes of migration.

Let's be clear: while the Biden administration has fallen short, it's because of the broken immigration system that Congress has failed to fix. The current solutions proposed by House Republicans for our immigration system are partisan and create further chaos at our border. A comprehensive legislative solution is badly needed and that's why House Democrats are prepared to pass legislation that is permanent and meaningful, restores dignity to our immigration system, strengthens our labor market, provides critical resources to our southern border and addresses the root causes of migration.

11:00 a.m.

10:45 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

Senator Kyrsten Sinema confirmed to ABC15 that nearly 100 migrants were released to the community in Nogales. Efforts are underway to get them on buses to Tucson or Phoenix. Sen. Sinema said, "It's is unfair for Arizona border communities to have migrants to be dropped off without notice."

Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R) District 6 said, "There are so many migrants coming across at Yuma now, that a large number of them were taken to the Naco BP station southeast of Tucson to be processed."

10:12 a.m.

8:00 a.m.