Border Patrol has begun immediately returning Mexican citizens who illegally cross the southern border in an effort to avoid filling its 73 holding stations with people during the coronavirus pandemic, according to three employees.

Agents this week are swiftly remanding Mexicans who are stopped after entering the country illegally between official crossing points. The move is an attempt by the Trump administration to keep thousands of Mexican citizens who are arrested each month from ending up in holding cells for days, where the virus could spread among detainees and agents.