live from washington. this is bbc news. welcome to viewers on pbs in america. concerns over us mexico border crossings as the end of a controversial immigration policy is hours away. translation: i say it is too much, translation: i say it is too much. here _ translation: i say it is too much, here we _ translation: i say it is too much, here we cannot - translation: | say it is too | much, here we cannot sleep, translation: | say it is too - much, here we cannot sleep, the cold is too intense. i say what did i do?! also in the programme — ukraine's president zelensky give more details about the expected counter offensive in the country's war with russia. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. it's nowjust hours before a controversial immigration policy is due to expire and officials have been warning about a potential surge in migrants at

the us—mexico border. officials have said that when title 42 is no longer in effect, tens of thousands of people could try to cross over. let's look at what the policy is. the temporary law title 42 was introduced by donald trump and meant illegal migrants could be removed quickly — and it expires overnight tonight. the policy made it easier for the us to send people back to mexico using the coronavirus pandemic as justification. the winding down of covid measures means the policy no longer has any public health justification, prompting officials to announce it would end on may 11th, the same day as the official us public health emergency. and when it ends in a few hours from now, the us will return to a policy where migrants are screened to determine if they are eligible for asylum and quickly deported if they do not qualify. earlier, us homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas had this warning for those who are not eligible to seek asylum.

our borders are not open. people who cross our border unlawfully and without a legal basis to remain will be properly processed and removed. meanwhile, the house majority leader kevin mccarthy blamed president biden and his administration for the expected surge of migrants. the white house had two years to plan for the end of title 42. we all knew the deadline. but the white house produced no plan, missed the deadline and bumbled into another crisis. even president biden, who has only been to the border one time in 50 years says this, "there is going to be chaos for a little while. " on the other side of the border in mexico there's confusion about what will happen once title 42 is lifted, as this mother from venezuela told the bbc.

translation: i say mum, it is too much- _ translation: i say mum, it is too much. here _ translation: i say mum, it is too much. here you _ translation: i say mum, it is too much. here you cannot - too much. here you cannot sleep, the cold is too intense. i say, lord, sleep, the cold is too intense. isay, lord, what sleep, the cold is too intense. i say, lord, what do i do? we are worried they will close the border until as everything is over, after all the sacrifice. joining me live from mexico city is our correspondent will grant and our north america correspondent sophie long is in el paso texas. it is good to see you both. sophie let's start with you what is happening there at the moment? it what is happening there at the moment? , , ., moment? it is interesting on the streets _ moment? it is interesting on the streets of _ moment? it is interesting on the streets of el— moment? it is interesting on the streets of el paso - moment? it is interesting onl the streets of el paso through the streets of el paso through the day it has been very quiet. in the past there have been hundreds of people, migrants sleeping on the street in the extensive preparations for the end of title 42, that restriction being lifted, they have gone to a huge effort to decompress the system so the streets have been cleared. i have to say in the last few hours it is starting to get busier again but it is

interesting because when i speak to any of the people i have met here over the past few days and say to them are you aware that the laws are changing, did that prompt you to make your way here faster, no—one has any idea about that, they do not know what title 42 is nor the new restrictions and when i ask people how hopeful they are of staying they are just waiting to see. there were flyers handed out by the authorities a couple of days ago urging people on the streets to hand themselves in to the processing centre so i think there has been an enormous effort to ready themselves for an influx that has been anticipated but we are seeing numbers increase already in customs and border control so they have encountered upwards of 10,000 people trying to cross the border every day since monday.— to cross the border every day since monday. will, we heard the voice _ since monday. will, we heard the voice of _ since monday. will, we heard the voice of the _ since monday. will, we heard the voice of the desperation i since monday. will, we heardl the voice of the desperation of people trying to cross into the united states. how are mexican authorities coping with thousands of people on that side of the border? mid

thousands of people on that side of the border?- thousands of people on that side of the border? add to that desperation — side of the border? add to that desperation the _ side of the border? add to that desperation the conditions - side of the border? add to that desperation the conditions that they are — desperation the conditions that they are staying in. it is rainy— they are staying in. it is rainy season here in mexico and those _ rainy season here in mexico and those coming through from the southern — those coming through from the southern border with what mahler _ southern border with what mahler are trapped in towns with— mahler are trapped in towns with a — mahler are trapped in towns with a very large military presence, the mexican president sent down thousands more national guard to add to the 25 or so,000 _ national guard to add to the 25 or so,000 military personnel already— or so,000 military personnel already down there. supposedly with instructions to not confront them but rather, as he said, _ confront them but rather, as he said. to — confront them but rather, as he said, to protect them. the reality— said, to protect them. the reality is— said, to protect them. the reality is that the pressure that — reality is that the pressure that will_ reality is that the pressure that will be put on shelters across _ that will be put on shelters across the country, the pressure that will be put on authorities to process people and give _ authorities to process people and give them the humanitarian visas _ and give them the humanitarian visas to— and give them the humanitarian visas to head north on the first— visas to head north on the first place is going to be almost _ first place is going to be almost unworkable for the next can authorities. under pressure as they— can authorities. under pressure as they already are. add to that, — as they already are. add to that, the _ as they already are. add to that, the conditions are such that— that, the conditions are such that so— that, the conditions are such that so many families will be simply— that so many families will be simply sleeping in the streets. all along — simply sleeping in the streets. all along the northern border

and along the southern border as welt — and along the southern border as well. �* ., ., as well. and what of the migrants _ as well. and what of the migrants you've - as well. and what of the migrants you've spoken | as well. and what of the l migrants you've spoken to as well. and what of the - migrants you've spoken to told you about why they made the journey despite the difficulties at the border in particular?— difficulties at the border in particular? difficulties at the border in articular? ., ., particular? take a snapshot of conditions _ particular? take a snapshot of conditions across _ particular? take a snapshot of conditions across latin - particular? take a snapshot of| conditions across latin america at the — conditions across latin america at the moment. these are countries _ at the moment. these are countries that are coming out of the — countries that are coming out of the covid pandemic where economic downturn has been brotat— economic downturn has been brutal and in several cases we are talking about extreme political difficulties, pressure, whether that is nicaragua or venezuela or cuba. the conditions for young people are almost unbearable, there are almost unbearable, there are no— are almost unbearable, there are nojoh _ are almost unbearable, there are nojob opportunities and the climate change and the conditions that creates for small—scale subsistence farmers makes _ small—scale subsistence farmers makes it — small—scale subsistence farmers makes it a — small—scale subsistence farmers makes it a very bleak outlook and has — makes it a very bleak outlook and has been for a long time and — and has been for a long time and many— and has been for a long time and many people know that they can make — and many people know that they can make more in one hour working _ can make more in one hour working on a construction site in california than they can in one — in california than they can in one day— in california than they can in one day at home. we

in california than they can in one day at home.— in california than they can in one day at home. we can hear thunder there _ one day at home. we can hear thunder there in _ one day at home. we can hear thunder there in the _ one day at home. we can hear i thunder there in the background as he was speaking about the conditions. sophie, quickly, how is el paso where you are coping? eli how is el paso where you are co . in i ? ., , ., how is el paso where you are coinu? ., how is el paso where you are coinu? . ., coping? el paso at the moment seems to be — coping? el paso at the moment seems to be coping _ coping? el paso at the moment seems to be coping very - coping? el paso at the moment seems to be coping very well. i seems to be coping very well. but we have heard from the secretary of state for homeland security with a clear message that even when title 42 restrictions are lifted, new restrictions are lifted, new restrictions will go into place and the border will remain closed. the problem is whenever there is a change to policy at there is a change to policy at the us southern border or, indeed, a rumour of it, there is a huge amount of confusion and a heightened level of anxiety and there are many thousands of people on the mexican side of the border, many of whom have already tried to make their way into the united states and been sent back under title 42 when they have been there for many months, some years and is well was just saying, they came because they are desperate. so we will now have a number of people who will come across the border, they will not be

deported immediately, they will go into a system and be processed, for want of a better word, and we'll have interviews where the onus will be on them to see whether they do have a right to claim asylum here so whether or not they want to be able to's day remains to be seen. . able to's day remains to be seen. , ., ., ,., able to's day remains to be seen. , ., ., ., seen. sophie and el paso and will in mexico, _ seen. sophie and el paso and will in mexico, thank - seen. sophie and el paso and will in mexico, thank you - seen. sophie and el paso and will in mexico, thank you forl will in mexico, thank you for the update. just hours before the expiration of title 42, the us house of representatives passed a new border security bill. the republican—sponsored �*secure the border act of 2032�* is unlikely to clear the democratically—controlled senate, but it would mandate the hiring of more border patrol agents, and resume construction of a border wall — a centerpiece of donald trump's immigration policy. earlier i spoke with two lawmakers about the situation at the border, one democrat one republican. in a moment we'll hear from republican congressman aaron bean of florida. but first, here's pramila jayapal, a democrat from washington state. congresswoman, thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. you visited the border back in march to make your own assessment of the situation. are you against lifting

title 42 tonight? no, i think that title 42 has actually been extremely unhelpful over the last several years. it was never meant to be used as an immigration tool, immigration policy. it is a public health policy. and it's been used in very, very rare circumstances. it was not appropriately put into place. and frankly, it created even more chaos at the border because, instead of processing people through in a legitimate way, it actually made it so that we just removed people, but they would come back over the border again. so most of the immigrants that were apprehended at the border were people who had tried to come in multiple times. so i believe title 42 should be lifted and we need to put in place orderly legal pathways, ways for people to continue to come into the country. are you ok with the chaos that we are seeing at the border right now? well, i don't think... look, i think that what is

happening at the border is a symptom of the much larger problem of an immigration system that's been broken for 30 years and a republican party that has refused to fix it, time and time again. so the chaos, what people call the chaos, is people who are seeking relief from terrible circumstances, persecution, war, economic devastation. and if we provide legal pathways for them, as the biden administration did several months ago, what you see is people use those legal pathways, parole programmes, family reunification, and now, of course, establishing refugee processing centres within countries in the western hemisphere. i do want to ask you, congresswoman, i do want to ask you about the biden administration's the department of homeland security secretary mayorkas said today that the measures that the biden administration are going to put in place will not work overnight. but down the road they will be able to assess whether they've been successful.

what would a success look like to you? i think what success looks like is you have fewer people coming to the border claiming asylum who don't qualify, and you have more people utilising the legal pathways, whether it's parole, whether it's in—country refugee processing, whether its family reunification programmes. that's the way that we're going to ultimately address the situation, along with investments in the sending countries so that we give people options to stay in their own countries. if we look at the immediate situation tonight is the us border secure?— situation tonight is the us border secure? the us border has always — border secure? the us border has always been _ border secure? the us border has always been secure - border secure? the us border has always been secure to - border secure? the us borderj has always been secure to the extent that we secure it. we know that a wall does not work. donald trump tried to put a wall in place that has been breached hundreds of times. those are not the solutions. solutions are an underlying that works. democrats have invested in remote technology and sensors and groans, things that can really monitor technologically the border as well as entry point of the

country to make sure we are actually helping put resources at the ports of entry. that is what makes the border security —— border secure. what makes the border security -- border secure.— -- border secure. you've been critical of _ -- border secure. you've been critical of the _ -- border secure. you've been critical of the bill _ -- border secure. you've been critical of the bill that - -- border secure. you've been critical of the bill that the - critical of the bill that the republicans have proposed. it seems republicans and democrats are far away from each other on this question of immigration reform. is there any common ground? i reform. is there any common round? ., ~' , ground? i do think there is common — ground? i do think there is common ground. - ground? i do think there is common ground. we - ground? i do think there is i common ground. we passed ground? i do think there is - common ground. we passed some bipartisan bills in the last congress under democrats with republican support. the modernisation act, other fixes to our legal immigration system for people to come here and work. those are good solutions and we could pass them even under this congress but the reality is that this is not about policy. we know how to fix this. ten years ago we had a bill that passed the senate with 68 bipartisan votes but the republicans in charge of the republicans in charge of the house at the time refused to bring it up for a vote because they knew it would pass. they want to keep the

immigration system broken, they are not looking for real solutions. forthose solutions. for those republicans who solutions. forthose republicans who are looking for real solutions and want to uphold our american values, we stand ready to work with them. i would like to ask you about the debt ceiling negotiation. do you think there are concessions that democrats could make to ensure that a deal is reached? let could make to ensure that a deal is reached?— deal is reached? let me be clear. deal is reached? let me be clear- the _ deal is reached? let me be clear. the debt _ deal is reached? let me be clear. the debt ceiling - deal is reached? let me be clear. the debt ceiling has| clear. the debt ceiling has been raised in a bipartisan way every year dozens of times. democrats raised it under donald trump, republicans raised that under donald trump and now to somehow say that we are going to take the american economy and the world economy hostage if we do not get 22% cut to all of the social safety net programmes that they have not been able to get through is absolutely ludicrous. so let's raise the debt ceiling and then go into a regular negotiation that we have. i think there are three part, the president, republicans and democrats in congress and certainly democrats in the house and they

are ready to raise the debt ceiling and enter into negotiations. but let's pay our bills first, keep the chaos out of our economy, not make people lose jobs and then we can have the discussion about what it should look like. if the discussion about what it should look like.— should look like. if there is no agreement _ should look like. if there is no agreement should - should look like. if there is - no agreement should president biden go around congress and pay those bills? i do biden go around congress and pay those bills?— pay those bills? i do believe so. it is pay those bills? i do believe so- it is a — pay those bills? i do believe so. it is a constitutional- so. it is a constitutional obligation. he raised the 14th amendment and i spoke to legal scholars about it and i think it is a viable option, to take this off the table and not allow for this hostagetaking. allow us to do ourjob and allow us to deliver for the american people.- allow us to deliver for the american people. thank you for “oininr american people. thank you for joining us- _ congresswoman jaya pal there. now we turn to the republican viewpoint, and for that i spoke with congressman aaron bean of florida. that discussion happened before the house vote we mentioned earlier. thank you forjoining us. title

42 expires injust hours. president biden has said there would be chaos. you went to the border, what did you witness? eyewitness chaos. it is going to be ultra chaos but it is a ready and chaos. president biden has already admitted that. which is why we need to act immediately. today i will be voting on the most massive border security bill i think ever before congress. that bill that house _ ever before congress. that bill that house republicans - ever before congress. that bill that house republicans have l that house republicans have introduced isabel that would require the administration to resume construction of a and personnel and technology boost. democrats are unlikely to take this up. would it not be time to negotiate on a solution both sides agreed to? taste

to negotiate on a solution both sides agreed to?— sides agreed to? we need to work together. _ sides agreed to? we need to work together. a _ sides agreed to? we need to work together. a solution . sides agreed to? we need to l work together. a solution both sides agreed to? we need to work together. i country without borders is not a country adult and so the house republicans have taken action. the biden administration is ignoring the laws that are already there. ——is not a country at all. people are fed up country at all. people are fed up with an open border. they can say the border is under control but it is not. as you mentioned, i spent two days walking with border patrol in texas two months ago, they are overwhelmed. they are swamped. the numbers coming in are so high. i cannot imagine what happens was title 42 and but they are already getting swamped now. we need to get the american people have a say. we're going to pass this bill today. i cannot imagine anybody

not voting for this bill. it is the essence of our country. it is in dire emergency. we did a lot of many town halls in texas and if they are fed up. now is the time for action. congressmen, i have to ask about what democrats at about this deal today. they said it is a cruel, extreme and unworkable because it bans children from seeking assignment and mandates family detention. if assignment and mandates family detention. , ., ., ., detention. if you are ever on an aeroplane. _ detention. if you are ever on an aeroplane, they - detention. if you are ever on an aeroplane, they stay - detention. if you are ever on an aeroplane, they stay putl an aeroplane, they stay put your mask on first before you put it on anybody else because you have to be strong and able to help others. we cannot help ourselves right now so america is not the strong country is to be because we cannot contain these numbers so we are offering so goodies and open borders that the numbers are

coming in. once we say america's borders are close, we will enforce the current law, waiting in mexico, we will not see these huge, massive numbers again. it see these huge, massive numbers aaain. . see these huge, massive numbers a.ain_ , ., ., , see these huge, massive numbers aaain. , ., ., ., again. it is hogwash. i want to make sure _ again. it is hogwash. i want to make sure i — again. it is hogwash. i want to make sure i understand - again. it is hogwash. i want to make sure i understand you i make sure i understand you correctly. make sure i understand you correctly-— correctly. will this separate families? — correctly. will this separate families? i _ correctly. will this separate families? i am _ correctly. will this separate families? i am saying - correctly. will this separate families? i am saying it - families? i am saying it protects the integrity and sovereignty of america. we can do it much better than we are doing it right now but waiting in mexico is much better. waiting is a family in mexico together is much better than separating family so this bill says that, you need to wait in mexico and that america's border is closed, not open. your constituents are worried about the debt ceiling. is there room for compromise between the speaker of the house evan mccarthy and the president about making sure the us is not default on its debt?

the question is, as a meeting? for 90 days the president has been a while, i did not where he has been, maybe he has been at that beach house. but... awol. we had finally they got a meeting with joe awol. we had finally they got a meeting withjoe biden. that is at the art of compromise, meeting and talking about needs and priority of both sides. our needsis and priority of both sides. our needs is getting american spending under control. it is not under control so we need to make some changes and part of thatis make some changes and part of that is reducing out out go. it does not match our incomes. hopefully that would be a part of the future that limit deal we're getting closer. that would be breaking news on your hopefully soon.— hopefully soon. thank you for “oininr hopefully soon. thank you for joining us- — hopefully soon. thank you for joining us. thank _ hopefully soon. thank you for joining us. thank you - hopefully soon. thank you for joining us. thank you so - hopefully soon. thank you for. joining us. thank you so much. around the world and across

the uk, this is bbc news. iam i am excited, nervous. at 88 years, martin was been given the chance to play in a light aircraft for the first time. his request when asked by charis if there was anything he ever wanted to do. and he was away, for a flight that would give martin unrivalled views over the south coast and the chance to be piloted. martin, ou chance to be piloted. martin, you have _ chance to be piloted. martin, you have control. _ chance to be piloted. martin, you have control. i _ chance to be piloted. martin, you have control. i have - you have control. i have control? _ you have control. i have control? you _ you have control. i have control? you have - you have control. i have i control? you have control. you have control. i have - control? you have control. it was provided _ control? you have control. it was provided by _ control? you have control. it was provided by the - control? you have control. it| was provided by the company that helps martin's at home, as part of an effort to improve client's lies.— part of an effort to improve client's lies. you're never too late and _ client's lies. you're never too late and l— client's lies. you're never too late and i think _ client's lies. you're never too late and i think that -

client's lies. you're never too late and i think that is - late and i think that is something we need learn more, that it something we need learn more, thatitis something we need learn more, that it is possible to really enjoy later life and that is what this is all about. you're live with bbc news. in other news: the palestinian militant group islamichhad on thursday fired hundreds of rockets into israel in response to the latest killing of their military leaders. while most rockets were intercepted by israel's iron dome air defense system, one hit a residential building in rehovot and killed an elderly man. this comes as israel's operations killed 28 people in gaza including women and children. a former us marine is set to be arrested on friday and charged with second—degree manslaughter after he applied a deadly chokehold to a homeless man on the new york city subway. daniel penny said he acted in self—defence. witnesses said the victim, jordan neely, had been acting aggressively and erratically but didn't attack anyone. his death has prompted protests. the united kingdom has become

the first country to send longer—range missiles to ukraine as its forces prepare to launch a counter offensive against the russian invasion. our correspondent hugo bachega sat down with ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky to discuss the upcoming attack. so, mr president, i've been here for a few weeks, and i think every almost every conversation i've had has touched on the issue of this much anticipated ukrainian counteroffensive. are you ready for this counteroffensive? translation: mentally, we're ready. _ in terms of how motivated our military are, we're ready. we're ready. in terms of equipment, not everything has arrived yet. that's my answer.

so you're still waiting for weapons and for the kind of military equipment that have been promised to arrive. translation: the declaration may talk modest or cheap. yes, we're still expecting some things. they will reinforce our counter offensive and most importantly, they will protect our people. we're expecting armoured vehicles. they arrive in batches. we can advance with what we've got. and i think we can be successful, but we will lose a lot of people a level i think that is unacceptable. we need to wait. we need a bit more time. just let me talk about something that happened last week because moscow accused ukraine of trying to assassinate president putin. was ukraine behind that alleged attack? translation: no, clearly we were not behind it. - they're always looking to do something that would look like justification. you do this and we do this in response. but it didn't work. not even for their own people at home.

so who was behind it? i think they did it themselves. what kind of magic thing was carrying bombs? why did it fail? no—one was killed. everyone was safe and sound and so on and so forth and that is why they did it themselves, absolutely. i am confident of this. , . . absolutely. i am confident of this. , ., , ., . ., this. next year is an election ear in this. next year is an election year in america, _ this. next year is an election year in america, which - this. next year is an election year in america, which is - this. next year is an election | year in america, which is your main ally... translation: i cannot vote, i am a citizen of ukraine, i cannot say who i would vote for.— ukraine, i cannot say who i would vote for. but apart from that, would vote for. but apart from that. you _ would vote for. but apart from that, you consent _ would vote for. but apart from that, you consent that - that, you consent that depending on who is elected, you could end up losing this support from your main ally?

translation: it support from your main ally? translation:— support from your main ally? translation: it is hard to say, to be honest. _ translation: it is hard to say, to be honest. elections- translation: it is hard to say, to be honest. elections are - to be honest. elections are internal processes and always affect any country, especially if you talk about elections in the us. first, i do not think we will lose bipartisan support and, secondly, yes, they are taking place in two years time, who knows where we will be. i believe we will win. we who knows where we will be. i believe we will win.— believe we will win. we are here is your _ believe we will win. we are here is your revision - believe we will win. we are here is your revision is - here is your revision is happening in liverpool, england, and you were supposed to be hosting at here but you cannot because of the wall. how disappointed are you that you cannot host it? translation: i have great respect for the united kingdom and in society. it is an amazing country. from the very start, my opinion has been that if we cannot host your revision it should take place in one of the countries that shares a border with us.

such as slovakia or poland or any other country which our people can reach easily, something nearby. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. over the past few days, we've seen lots of rainbows. there's been some very heavy rain and lots of thunder and lightning. and on thursday, we had some funnel clouds coming down from the base of the cloud. that rotating cylinder of air, if it hit the ground, it would have been a tornado. funnel clouds not unusual at this time of the year. don't think we're going to see any, though, over the next few days because low pressure is going to take the heavy showers into central southern parts of europe. high pressure building across the uk. but we're seeing an east or northeasterly breeze coming in that's dragging in all the cloud from off the north sea. so a grey start for many central and eastern parts of the uk. that finger of rain moves down briefly to affect east anglia, the southeast, maybe the east midlands,

before arriving in dorset. ahead of that, one or two showers for wales and the southwest. for many western parts of the uk, it's going to be dry with some lengthy spells of sunshine. and warm as well, temperatures 18, 19 degrees. where we keep the cloud, though, for eastern parts of england, much cooler, 13 or 1a nearer the mark and a cool breeze blowing in as well. that breeze will blow in more cloud overnight, particularly across central and eastern england on saturday morning. but it should burn back towards some of those north sea coasts, with sunshine developing more widely. and it's going to be warm in that sunshine and light winds as well. temperatures are going to be higher on saturday, probably peaking at 20 or 21 celsius in quite a few places. second half of the weekend sees some changes because the high pressure releases its grip, and this weather front will move down from the northwest. that will bring some rain into scotland and northern ireland and eventually a bit of that rain will move over the irish sea into far western parts of england and wales. ahead of that we'll see some sunny spells, and barring one or two light showers, it may well be dry. and it's going to be quite warm across the eastern side of england and through the midlands,

temperatures again, 20 or 21 celsius. but over towards the northwest, things are turning much cooler nearer 15 or 16 degrees in that rain. that rain then pushes its way down across the country overnight. and then following on from that early next week, we have more of a northwesterly breeze and that's going to bring in some cooler air as well. so the peak of the temperatures looks like being over the weekend. after that, things are cooling down. there'll be some sunshine around into next week. we can see just how low those temperatures are going to be. there will be some showers, but not the heavy ones that we've seen of late.

thai people prepared to head to the polls for an election coming at a pivotal time for the polarised southeast asian country. and new york city passes a law banning weight discrimination in housing and hiring. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm karishma vaswani. we start the programme in thailand where this weekend tens of millions of voters are heading to the polls to cast their vote in the general election. nearly 70 political parties are contesting the election. the front runner is paetongtarn shinawatra — she's the leader of the country's largest opposition party and the daughter of former

prime minister thaksin shinawatra.