“Federal agents made a gruesome discovery last week in Douglas, Ariz., when a woman’s body was found hanging from a towering wall along the U.S.-Mexico border,” the Washington Post reports.

“President Biden’s inner circle has been discussing delaying the repeal of Title 42 border restrictions, now set to end May 23,” Axios reports.

“The White House is looking for ways to buy time to avoid a massive influx of migrants that would add to already-historic border numbers. That already endangers Democratic incumbents in states that could decide the Senate majority in November.”

“Biden officials recognize they’re in a jam: moderate Democrats are pounding on them to delay the repeal but doing so would inflame the party’s progressive base.”

A new Gallup poll finds 41% of Americans report worrying a great deal about the issue of illegal immigration, with another 19% worried a fair amount.

Associated Press: “Migrants attempted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border at the highest level in two decades as the U.S. prepares for even larger numbers with the expected lifting of a pandemic-era order that turned away asylum seekers.”

“Immigration authorities stopped migrants 221,303 times along the Southwest border in March, a 33% increase from a month earlier.”

Wall Street Journal: “The U.S. has made more than a million arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border since October, the fastest pace of illegal border crossings in at least the last two decades.”

Five more Democratic Senate candidates told Politico they disagree “with the way the Biden administration is phasing out Title 42, the latest sign that Biden’s policy position is a big loser among purple-state Democrats facing tough elections.”

“And an increasing number of Democrats say the whole thing needs to be paused.”

“A second group of asylum seekers arrived in Washington, D.C., Thursday on a charter bus after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to transport migrants from Texas to D.C.,” ABC News reports.

“President Biden is facing a growing mutiny from Democratic candidates — including five vulnerable senators — who are questioning his administration’s decision to lift a pandemic health order that has drastically curtailed migrants’ ability to seek asylum at the southern border,” the Washington Post reports.

“The internal dissension is an early acknowledgment from many Democrats that worries about border security and immigration could become a major obstacle for them in this year’s midterm elections. Polls show the topic to be a leading concern for voters, and one on which Biden has received low marks. Now, candidates are openly warning that the Biden administration’s decision to stop using the public health order, known as Title 42, could lead to chaotic conditions at the border and refocus public attention on an issue that has challenged president after president.”

Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke (D) knocked the Biden administration for failing to give border communities a plan for dealing with the number of migrants at their doorstep before saying he’ll end the pandemic-era emergency health order that allows federal officials to turn people away at the border next month, the Texas Tribune reports.

Said O’Rourke: “It does not make sense to end this until there is a real plan and the capacity in place to handle those and address those that come over.”

“A bus from Texas arrived in Washington, D.C. Wednesday morning, transporting dozens of illegal immigrants as part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) new plan to counter federal immigration policies during an ongoing border crisis,” Fox News reports.

“GOP candidates from Nevada to Ohio are stepping up attacks on undocumented Latino immigrants despite warnings the strategy may backfire in some general election contests,” Axios reports.

Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) is calling on the Biden administration to keep a Trump-era immigration rule that limits migrants and asylum-seekers, WMUR reports.

Shane Goldmacher: “Hassan’s office putting out photos of her at the border with border agents tells you a lot about the issue and the environment.”

New York Times: “For much of Mr. Biden’s presidency so far, the White House has been divided by furious debates over how — and whether — to proceed in the face of a surge of migrants crossing the southwest border.”

“Senior aides have been battling one another over how quickly to roll back the most restrictive policies and what kind of system would best replace them.”

“Now, Mr. Biden finds himself the target of attacks from all sides: Immigration activists accuse him of failing to prioritize the human rights of millions of immigrants. Conservatives have pointed to surges of migrants at the border as evidence that the president is weak and ineffective. And even some moderate Democrats now fear that lifting Trump-era border restrictions could hurt them politically.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) “unveiled a stunning plan that sent a shockwave through the immigration rights community,” the Texas Tribune reports.

“Texas would place state troopers in riot gear to meet migrants at the border and bus them straight to the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. where the Biden administration ‘will be able to more immediately address the needs of the people that they are allowing to come across our border.’”

“Five Democratic and six Republican senators will introduce a new bill on Thursday that would prevent the Biden administration from lifting Title 42 without a detailed plan in place to stop an expected surge of migrants at the border,” Axios reports.

“The administration’s plans to end the Trump-era Covid-19 immigration ban by May 23 were immediately met with scathing criticism from lawmakers in both parties. They fear the announcement will trigger a mass migration event.”

“Vulnerable Democrats also worry it will create a political firestorm, and provide Republicans with fresh ammunition just months before the midterms.”

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) slammed President Biden’s decision to rescind Title 42, a Trump-era health order used to rapidly deport people who cross the border without authorization, as “a frightening decision” that would likely increase the volume of migrants at the southern border, The Hill reports.

Said Manchin: “Title 42 has been an essential tool in combatting the spread of Covid-19 and controlling the influx of migrants at our southern border. We are already facing an unprecedented increase in migrants this year, and that will only get worse if the Administration ends the Title 42 policy.”