Amid a rise in border crossings, over 11,000 migrants are waiting in northern Mexico.

While the US experiences a continuous influx of thousands of migrants crossing its borders illegally, over 11,000 individuals remain in shelters and camps on the Mexican side, as revealed by community leaders to CNN. As the Biden administration grapples with divisive discussions on immigration policy, these waiting migrants and asylum seekers in locations such as Tijuana, Reynosa, and Matamoros hope to enter the US through legal pathways.

In Tijuana, approximately 3,800 migrants from countries like Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela await entry into shelters, according to municipal migration affairs director Enrique Lucero. In Reynosa, another 3,273 migrants are at Senda De Vida shelters, as reported by pastor Hector Silva. Additionally, Matamoros hosts about 4,000 migrants in various settings, according to Glady Cañas of the nonprofit Ayudandoles a Triunfar.

Despite their desperation, many waiting migrants rely on mechanisms like the CBP One app, automating appointment scheduling for asylum claims with border patrol. However, the surge in crossings continues to strain US border cities, with a seven-day average of over 9,600 migrant encounters reported in December, up from approximately 6,800 encounters in late November.

Tragically, three migrants drowned in the Rio Grande in December, emphasizing the dangers faced by those attempting to cross. Migrants, influenced by optimistic messages from those processed by US immigration authorities, often underestimate the harsh reality, as noted by Glady Cañas.

While the Department of Homeland Security has deported or returned over 445,000 migrants since May, and the federal government has closed ports of entry and shifted resources, illegal crossings persist. The Biden administration temporarily suspended rail operations but resumed them recently. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is set to meet with top US officials on Wednesday in Mexico City to discuss the ongoing challenges at the border.