Reports of Influx of Asylum Seekers, Title 42 Order Ready to Sunset

Mass immigration crosses Texas border as Title 42 draws to a close https://t.co/jfpAnrjN5A

— Newstuk (@Newstuk1) December 13, 2022

In the last day or so, a great many news outlets (here, here) have reported on an increase in crossings at the U.S./Mexico border in Texas.  Al Jazeera, for example, reports that

“On its website, El Paso said the majority of the refugees and migrants are arriving from countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba, where violence and economic strife are widespread.

The city has tallied an average of 900 people per day passing through its facilities or that of local nongovernmental organisations (NGOs).

The influx comes as a controversial US immigration policy called Title 42 is set to expire on December 21. Implemented in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Title 42 allows US border agents to rapidly turn away most asylum seekers on the grounds of public health.

Fifteen states, including Republican-led Texas, are fighting to keep Title 42 in place, warning that asylum seeker arrivals will spike without it. But migrant rights advocates say the policy violates US and international law and puts people at risk of violence upon expulsion.”

Expect the news reports to affect the discussions in Congress of a bipartisan immigration reform bill.

KJ