This content was published on March 30, 2022 – 5:35 pm March 30, 2022 – 5:35 pm
WASHINGTON, March 30 (EFE) .- As President Joe Biden’s administration mulls the extension or repeal of controversial Title 42 to expedite deportation of asylum-seeking immigrants at the border with Mexico, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced announced this Wednesday that it is preparing for a possible increase in migration.
More than 1.6 million migrants have been expedited at the border under this health regulation, which was introduced two years ago by the administration of former President Donald Trump (2017-2021) and expires today.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is scheduled to complete its review of the rule today, and the government will announce whether to continue enforcement or suspend it.
A DHS statement detailed its “comprehensive strategy to deal with a potential increase in encounters (with undocumented migrants) at the border”.
This strategy includes “deploying resources to cope with the increased volume, fairer and more efficient immigration process, processing and deporting those who do not have valid reasons to seek asylum”.
A DHS official, speaking to reporters, said that authorities “need to be prepared for a possible contingency, which is that the suspension of Title 42 could increase the influx of immigrants.”
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Twenty-two members of the Texas representation in the House of Representatives sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, urging the Biden administration to keep Title 42 in practice.
In the letter, lawmakers pointed out that cities near the border are already facing the difficulties of illegal migration and lack the temporary housing, health and transportation services to deal with the consequences of a Title 42 suspension.
“If the CDC repeals Title 42 at this point, border police and local communities will be forced to accept at least twice the current number of migrants, with likely disastrous consequences,” the letter said.
The Biden administration is also under pressure from pro-immigrant advocates who are calling for the use of Title 42 to be removed, claiming that this measure deprives immigrants of their right to seek asylum and have their cases tried in immigration courts .
Representative Raúl Ruiz, a California Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, along with other Democratic congressmen sent a letter to Mayorkas, Becerra and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urging the cancellation of Title 42.
“For more than two years, asylum seekers have been illegally deported from the United States without due process,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat.
“Asylum is a human right and the use of Title 42 is an unjustified continuation of the Trump administration’s cruel immigration policies.” EFE
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