The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it is officially ending Title 42 in its April 1st order, the controversial policy implemented by the Trump administration restricting migrants from coming into the country under the auspices of a public health emergency. The CDC says that preventing migrants from entering the US is “no longer necessary to protect the public health,” though public health experts outside the agency have long argued that it was never necessary.
The policy was first enacted at the beginning of the pandemic and has remained in place since then, despite advocates criticizing the administration for keeping the policy in place. Title 42 has prevented over 600,000 people from seeking asylum in the United States. The Biden administration has largely continued this Trump-era policy despite criticism from immigrant advocates, who say the policy puts migrants in danger by forcing them to go to places like Haiti and Mexican border towns.
About 7,100 asylum seekers were arriving daily – much higher than the daily average of about 5,900 people per day in February. DHS published a f act sheet detailing its preparations for a potential increase in asylum seekers arriving at the border, which included deploying more personnel and expediting asylum claims. A central part of the n ew asylum procedures is called the “dedicated docket”, where determinations on cases will be made within 90 days at the border – rather than in immigration courts, where the process can take years.
Have more questions about asylum? Contact our Orange County asylum attorneys today at (949) 478-4963 to schedule a consultation!