In a week, the American regulations that allow immediate deportation of migrants who do not enter the U.S. legally expire. So-called Title 42 is tied up in federal court, and unless the federal government acts or the court rules, thousands of people a day may enter the U.S. and expect that they will be allowed to stay while the government considers their asylum claims. Even before Title 42 expires, border towns are seeing a flood of migrants crossing. 

While Title 42 hangs in the balance, a new survey by the George W. Bush Institute finds that a number of medium and large cities are especially welcoming to immigrants and success stories are emerging. The study found, “Several mid-Atlantic and Midwestern metros like Baltimore; Pittsburgh; Cincinnati; Detroit; Dayton, Ohio; Akron, Ohio; St. Louis; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, stand out for their immigrant-welcoming initiatives.” 

The new Consumer Price Index inflation figures provide some encouraging news that inflation may be slowing even as the Fed is expected to raise interest rates another half of a percent today. The price of food, gasoline and cars dropped last month but housing prices stayed flat and are much higher than a year ago. As a winter storm blows across the country, electricity prices are 14% higher than a year ago.

Correction, Dec. 14, 2022: This newsletter has been resent to change the subject line's framing of Title 42.