Title 42 is set to expire on May 23rd. NPR and Deepa Shivaram break down the basics of the controversial policy, how it’s impacted migrants, and how people are feeling about the change. Summary provided by McEntee Law Group.
Title 42 has been a part of the law since 1944 and is meant to prevent the spread of disease. The policy was put in place at the beginning of the pandemic to limit the spread of COVID. But, it has also prevented asylum seekers from entering the U.S. and allowed authorities to immediately expel migrants back across the border.
The law was originally created to help deal with tuberculosis, a major health threat at the time. However, experts say the law is obscure, and most Democrats criticize its harmful impact.
Since the policy was implemented, over 1.7 million immigrants have been expelled at the border.
While the policy is set to end next month, Congress could potentially delay its reversal. Several Republican Congress members have attempted to extend the policy already, but haven’t yet been successful.
Government officials are expecting an influx of migrants at the border once the policy is lifted. DHS released a plan for heightened security and COVID efforts to come into effect when Title 42 is lifted.
Immigration advocates have been critical of Biden for keeping this Trump-era policy in place. However, some Democrats don’t think his plan is strong enough to deal with the inevitable influx of migrants. With the midterm elections coming up, supporting Title 42 may be harmful for Democrats facing tight races.
