Title 42, the Trump-era Covid-19 policy preventing individuals seeking asylum from entering the US on the pretext that they could pose a health risk, expired Thursday evening,
In anticipation of the policy change, once more restoring the right to an asylum hearing, US Border Patrol agents prepared for a massive surge in people seeking asylum at the southern border.
To relieve some border patrol facilities from overcrowding, the Biden administration authorised the release of migrants on parole “with conditions”.
However, a federal judge blocked that historically-used practice on Thursday in a temporary order.
As many as 15 buses carrying migrants released by Border Patrol are expected to leave Yuma, Arizona, today. Another bus carrying migrants from New York City has already arrived in Newburgh, New York.
Over the last three years, authorities have effectively used Title 42 as a makeshift solution to the country’s ongoing immigration crisis, with over 2.8m people turned away since its introduction.
With the policy’s termination, many are worried border towns will become overwhelmed with migrants. Ahead of the expiration, Texas towns El Paso and Brownsville had declared an emergency.
