More Drugs Will Enter The US At Southern Border
Once Title 42 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (TINA) expires, more drugs will enter the US at the southern border. This is a big deal for a lot of reasons, including U.S. overdoses. This is a problem that will require a long-term solution. The best way to accomplish this is to create a new immigration law that is based on reality. There are many groups working to do their best to protect immigrants and prevent drug smuggling.
Expulsions of migrants seeking asylum
It has been nearly three years since the United States government started turning away migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. During that time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expelled over 73,000 people.
These expulsions are under a public health rule called Title 42. President Trump’s administration took advantage of this law to expel migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. During the previous administration, the Obama administration had expanded the scope of Title 42 for another year.
The Obama administration issued an executive order that set up a temporary solution for 700,000 “Dreamers” from Mexico and other countries. Nevertheless, many migrants continue to cross the border illegally. A new policy to expedite the processing of border asylum claims could help ease the pressure on the border in the long term.
A federal judge in Washington, DC, has ruled that the government cannot use Title 42 to immediately expel people at the U.S.-Mexico boundary after December 21. This ruling runs counter to the United States’ international agreements and is a violation of the federal law on asylum.
COVID-19 cases
When the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a public health order to curb the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19, some were concerned about how the policy would affect the numbers of migrants crossing the border. The agency claimed that COVID-19 is less of a concern than it once was and pointed to the availability of effective therapeutics.
Opponents of the CDC’s use of Title 42 argue that the policy has caused an increase in repeat border crossings. One in three apprehensions since the policy’s launch have been people on their second attempt. In addition, the recidivism rate has gone up, from seven percent to 27 percent.
According to a recent analysis by CNN, migrants from outside Mexico are significantly less likely to be expelled. Officials say that each exemption is granted on a case-by-case basis. Several public health experts have called for the end of border expulsions.
Legal fights over Title 42
A new legal fight over Title 42 is escalating. As President Donald Trump’s administration prepares to wind down the public health policy, several Republican-led states are trying to keep it in place. But legal experts are warning that the uncertainty will create chaos at the border and cause unnecessary harm to undocumented migrants.
The policy is based on a law called the Public Health Service Act. It grants the federal government the right to expel people who may be at risk for spreading communicable diseases. However, it has been challenged in court, and a judge has temporarily halted the end of the policy.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is a Republican, is one of several state officials pushing for Title 42 to continue. Despite the bipartisan effort to stop the termination of the policy, the Trump administration has argued that the policy is necessary to fight the virus.