The US government is ready to manage a potential influx of migrants next month, after the lifting of restrictions which for two years have allowed the immediate expulsion of migrants arrested at the border.
The administration of Joe Biden will put in place a “comprehensive strategy” to deal with an increase in arrivals of asylum seekers and refugees after the end of this device called “Title 42”, scheduled for May 23.
Migrants will then be able to apply for humanitarian leave, a move that critics say could overburden border authorities and allow hundreds of thousands of migrants to remain on US soil while their applications are considered.
Those who have no reason to be admitted to the United States, especially if they attempt to cross the border multiple times, may be subject to prosecution, executive officials qualified.
“To put it simply, when ‘Title 42’ is lifted, asylum and other legal avenues of migration will remain open to those seeking protection, and those who do not meet the criteria will be expeditiously removed,” a senior executive summed up. official on condition of anonymity.
Migration flows have surged since Biden’s arrival
The Biden administration, aware of a Louisiana judge’s intention to suspend the lifting of “Title 42”, put in place by former Republican President Donald Trump, has indicated that it will comply with this judicial decision. when it becomes official.
But such an order from the judge “would not be logical” because it “would prevent us from properly preparing for the systematic implementation of immigration law” when the health situation no longer justifies the use of these restrictions linked to Covid.
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) have indeed claimed that these measures were “no longer necessary” due to “the greater availability of tools to fight Covid-19”.
Migration flows, down sharply at the start of the pandemic, had started to increase again before Joe Biden took office more than a year ago, but clearly jumped afterwards.
Most migrants arrive from Central and Latin America, but some come from as far away as South Asia, and recently Ukraine.
US government officials have said they are increasing cooperation with Central American states to slow the flow of migrants, return migrants to their countries and expand the fight against smuggling groups.
But they acknowledged that the presence of large migrant camps on the Mexican side of the southern border could lead to a rapid spike in arrivals if Title 42 is lifted.
