Good afternoon,

Earlier this month, the CDC announced that it will end Title 42 on May 23^rd. Implemented in March 2020 under the Trump administration and maintained by the Biden administration, this pandemic-era policy allows border officials to rapidly turn back migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a public health protocol.

Title 42’s stated purpose as a public health tool is no longer relevant, but even as Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted across the country, it was still used over 1.7 million times to expel migrants in the last few months.

While this announcement has brought much pushback to suggest chaos at the border, it’s important to recognize that Title 42 wasn’t working well. In two years of use, it has proved dangerous for migrants, has benefitted smugglers and cartels, and has reduced order at the border.  

All of this points to the need for Democrats and Republicans to work together to create better border policies that will improve border management and decrease the risks migrants face at the border, something business, faith, national security and law enforcement leaders are actively pushing for. The Biden administration recently announced a new asylum rule that will help do that, but lasting change requires action from Congress as well.

The end of Title 42 is yet another reminder of the urgent need for members of Congress to listen to Americans and work together with urgency to find solutions on immigration. I hope you’ll join us in continuing to advocate for meaningful bipartisan legislation on immigration reform and border security that will benefit us all.

Stay healthy and hopeful,

Allison

Allison Bassett
Field and Constituencies Associate
National Immigration Forum

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