The lifting of pandemic border restrictions known as Title 42 has led to the implementation of new asylum rules and legal pathways, creating both challenges and opportunities for migrants seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border.Â
Title 42, the pandemic border restrictions, ended, lifting the policy that limited access to asylum since March 2020. The Biden administration implemented new asylum rules and legal pathways to discourage illegal border crossings and manage the increase in asylum seekers. With Title 42 lifted, migrants waiting in Mexico will now be subject to immigration protocols known as Title 8, which include screenings for asylum claims and detention for processing. The return of Title 8 may provide relief for migrants living in overcrowded shelters or on the streets but also carries stiffer penalties for illegal border crossings. The Biden administration has finalized a new rule limiting asylum for those who arrive at the US-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through. Efforts are underway to open regional processing centers and launch an online platform for appointments. The US will continue admitting migrants from certain countries, while Mexico will take back those who cross illegally. The border crisis is straining immigration resources, and additional troops have been deployed. The peak of the crisis is believed to have occurred due to people rushing to enter before Title 42 was lifted.Â
Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/11/1175378000/title-42-expires-asylum-us-border-texas
