The Biden administration announced the expiration of the Title 42 public health policy on May 11, which expelled hundreds of thousands of migrants to Mexico or their home countries. The policy had been implemented under the Trump administration on the grounds that their entry could contribute to the spread of COVID-19. Despite criticism, the Biden administration had continued to enforce Title 42, but limited the expulsion of migrants to certain countries under presidential direction. The end of the pandemic policy is anticipated to lead to a surge in migration across the southern border, with officials in California, Arizona and Texas reporting increased crossing numbers. In the lead-up to the policy’s expiration, US authorities also faced an unprecedented mass exodus of people from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Experts predict that migrant flow will increase in the coming months with the resumption of asylum processing on the US-Mexico border. To manage this, the Biden administration has announced a web of policies that pair measures to deter migration with expanded opportunities for migrants to enter the U.S. legally.
The end of Title 42 also coincides with a White House plan for a Family Expedited Removal Management program to expedite the processing of families with credible claims for asylum at the southwest border. GPS ankle monitors will be issued to heads of households, and curfews will be imposed to ensure they attend immigration court hearings without being detained. If asylum claims are rejected, those seeking asylum will be removed from the US in less than 30 days. Meanwhile, new border screening procedures for asylum seekers are being implemented, and around 1,500 active-duty troops are being sent to the area for 90 days. The troops are not expected to perform law enforcement functions or interact with migrants.
Despite the anticipated surge, U.S. and Mexican officials have announced an agreement on immigration policies, intending to deter illegal border crossings while also opening up other pathways for migrants. As part of the agreement, Mexico has agreed to continue accepting migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti who are turned away at the US border. Up to 100,000 people from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador who have family members in the US will also be allowed to live and work in the country. The two nations also plan to create hubs in Guatemala and Colombia outside of the US where migrants can apply to legally settle in the US, Canada or Spain.
The lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions, which allowed US officials to turn away tens of thousands of migrants crossing the southern border, has been a focus of government officials as they seek to manage a surge in migration. The Biden administration is set to open sites to allow migrants to apply for settlement in the United States, Spain or Canada. Migrants will undergo rigorous screening for those requesting asylum, and others who do not meet the asylum criteria will be deported. In the wake of these changes, officials in El Paso and Brownsville have declared a state of emergency in response to the anticipated influx of migrants.
In summary, the end of Title 42 public health policy has led to the anticipated surge in migration across the southern border. While the US and Mexico have agreed on a five-point plan to curb illegal migration, migrant flow is still expected to increase. The Biden administration’s Family Expedited Removal Management program and new border screening procedures for asylum seekers will be key elements in managing this influx. The opening of sites to allow migrants to apply for legal settlement will also be vital. Nonetheless, as the US continues to face this migration surge, renewed pressure is expected for Congress to overhaul US immigration policy.
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