Biden Administration Ends Title 42. What Now?
EL PASO, TEXAS - MAY 09: Texas National Guard troops set up razor wire near hundreds of immigrants who had crossed into the United States from Mexico on May 09, 2023 in El Paso, Texas. A surge of immigrants is expected with the end of the U.S. government's Covid-era Title 42 policy. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) John Moore/Getty Images hide caption
EL PASO, TEXAS - MAY 09: Texas National Guard troops set up razor wire near hundreds of immigrants who had crossed into the United States from Mexico on May 09, 2023 in El Paso, Texas. A surge of immigrants is expected with the end of the U.S. government's Covid-era Title 42 policy. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
John Moore/Getty ImagesOn Thursday, the Biden administration lifted title 42, a pandemic-era policy that shut down virtually all avenues for migrants to seek asylum in the US. In March of 2020 then president Trump invoked the rule as a public health emergency measure, allowing for the quick expulsion of migrants at the border.
Now that Title 42 has been lifted, tens of thousands of migrants fleeing poverty, violence and political instability will be subjected to decades-old immigration laws that will allow them to stay in the country while their cases make their way through immigration court. But the process could cause a bottleneck at the border and strain federal, state and local government resources.
How will the Biden administration respect asylum law and get control of the border, all while running a re-election campaign?
Host Asma Khalid talks to White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez. Also NPR's Joel Rose provide a view from the southern border.
This episode was produced by Michael Levitt and Marc Rivers. It was edited by Adam Raney. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.