U.S. and Mexican officials have agreed to new immigration policies aimed at stopping illegal border crossings while also opening up other avenues ahead of an expected surge in migrants following the end of pandemic restrictions.

Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall spent Tuesday (9) meeting with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other top officials, emerging with a five-point plan, according to statements from both nations, according to an Associated Press report.

Under the five-point plan, Mexico will continue to accept migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua who are rejected at the border, and up to 100,000 individuals from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador who have family in the U.S. will be eligible to live and work there.

“Despite sharing a 1,951-mile border with the U.S., Mexico had been notably absent from the rollout last week of a fresh set of efforts, including the creation of hubs outside the United States where migrants could go to apply to legally settle in the U.S., Spain or Canada. The first centers will open in Guatemala and Colombia”, according to the AP.

COVID-19 restrictions have allowed U.S. authorities to turn away tens of thousands of migrants crossing the southern border, but those restrictions were lifted on May 11 as authorities prepare for an increase in crossings. Even with the restrictions, the administration has seen record numbers of people crossing the border, and President Joe Biden has responded by cracking down on those who cross illegally and creating avenues as alternatives to a dangerous and often deadly journey.

“The U.S. will continue to turn away Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who cross illegally. Mexico said Tuesday it would continue to accept up to 30,000 migrants per month from the four countries that are making up a ballooning share of the overall illegal border crossings, with no easy way to quickly return migrants to their home countries”.

According to data on asylum seekers in Mexico, people from Haiti remained at the top with 18,860 so far this year, higher than the total for the whole of 2022.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is accepting 30,000 people a month from the four nations for two years and offering them the ability to work legally if they come legally, have qualified sponsors and pass background checks.

According to the Associated Press, “The administration also plans to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border itself, quickly deport those deemed as not being qualified, and penalize people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally move through another country on their way to the U.S. border. In addition, 1,500 active-duty personnel will be deployed to the border area for 90 days and will be pulled from the Army and Marine Corps”.