Biden administration to give COVID-19 vaccines to undocumented immigrants  

The Biden administration will offer COVID-19 vaccines to undocumented immigrants who are intercepted at the U.S. border and taken into custody, confirmed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

"The effort to vaccinate those in our care and custody, which is a public health best practice, has been ongoing for many months. DHS has already taken steps to offer COVID-19 vaccines to noncitizens in (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) custody," DHS said in a statement.

"In order to further safeguard public health and ensure the safety of border communities, the workforce, and migrants, DHS will expand these efforts and begin providing age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccines to noncitizens taken into CBP custody at the Southwest land border who are determined to be inadmissible pursuant to Title 8," the statement continued. 

With this new plan, authorities will vaccinate migrants who have been apprehended by border officials and do not have proof of vaccination. 

DHS plans to provide up to 2,700 vaccines a day for immigrants starting on Monday. The number of vaccines available is expected to increase to 6,000 a day by the end of May. 

The vaccination effort will start at 11 locations along the southern border and plans to expand to 16 other locations by April 8. 

The decision comes as U.S. officials prepare for a massive influx of migrants through the border, as the Biden administration reconsiders the pandemic emergency rule Title 42, which allowed authorities to turn away migrants at the border to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Last year, the White House rejected a proposal that would have allowed undocumented migrants to get vaccinated at the border over concerns that such a move would encourage more people to come to the U.S. irregularly.