Good afternoon,

On May 11, the Title 42 public health order came to an end. For over three years, this policy allowed the United States to expel migrants without providing them the opportunity to ask for asylum, sending hundreds of thousands of people fleeing dangerous situations back to other dangers.  

According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, arrivals at the southern border have not increased since Title 42 was lifted last week, going against most predictions. However, authorities recorded a higher than usual number of crossings during recent previous weeks. Local reports also showed thousands of migrants sleeping on the streets of border cities such as El Paso, Texas.

Under new federal regulations, migrants fleeing their home countries due to reasons such as unlivable violence and instability will likely be returned unless they meet a handful of exceptions:

• Already have permission to travel to the U.S. through a parole process approved DHS;  
• Use a DHS scheduling system like CBP One to pre-schedule a time and place to present themselves at a port of entry (or show up at a port of entry and can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that they couldn’t use the scheduling system because of language barriers, illiteracy, technical failures, or otherwise chronically serious issues); or  
• Have sought protection in another country on the way to the U.S., and have received a denial as the final decision.  

With the end of Title 42 and other border policies continuing, key questions remain regarding the Biden administration’s response to migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. We are concerned about the newly proposed asylum restrictions that would render many migrants ineligible. More than 10,000 Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans have been returned to Mexico since May 11, in addition to thousands of other migrants coming from Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and other countries.

Plans for new regional processing centers across the Western Hemisphere and increased personnel for administrative support are steps towards fixing our broken immigration system, but better solutions that protect the right to seek asylum need to be found.

"Our current challenges at the border have all happened with Title 42 in place. We need broader solutions that ensure our security while also honoring the human dignity of migrants," said Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum.

The United States has a proud history as a place of welcome. A recent poll shows that 71% of Americans agree that welcoming newcomers to our communities is an American value.

Immigration policies should not deny people fleeing desperate situations the refuge they need. Congress must find orderly and humane solutions to our broken immigration system while addressing border and national security issues.

Let’s continue to advocate for meaningful immigration reforms that preserve America’s value of welcome and deliver solutions to the challenges at our border.

Stay hopeful and committed,

Oula Alrifai

Oula Alrifai
Assistant Vice President of Field & Constituencies
National Immigration Forum 

NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:

BORDER REPORT: Border crossings drop by half; Even fewer migrants entering South Texas

POLITICO: 5 things to know about the Florida judge who blocked Biden’s immigration plan

AXIOS: Experts push Congress for more high skilled immigrants to compete with China

NEWS NATION: Here’s where Americans agree when it comes to immigration

CNN: Title 42 has expired. Here's what happens next