Multiple major news outlets have reported that the Biden administration may end Stephen Miller’s anti-asylum Title 42 policy by late May. Outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, and CNN report a possible end by late May, according to unnamed officials. Some of the outlets specify a termination date of May 23.
The decision is not yet final and determination should come in the next couple days, quite possibly hours. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing a March 30 deadline to review the policy.
RELATED STORY: Biden administration 'leaning toward' ending anti-asylum Title 42 order, report says
Calls for the president to end the flawed policy, which has used the pandemic as an excuse to quickly deport asylum-seekers in violation of their U.S. and international rights, have been consistent throughout his year-old administration.
They have intensified as the policy’s periodic review deadline has approached and as recent actions have shone a light on the policy’s arbitrary and discriminatory nature. That includes quickly deporting Haitian asylum-seekers, but then issuing a memo reminding U.S. border officers that they have discretion to exempt Ukrainians from the policy.
Listen to immigration activist Juan Escalante on Daily Kos’ The Brief podcast
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President Biden was questioned about the policy on Wednesday as he received his second booster dose (adding to the case that the U.S. can both respect the rights of asylum-seekers and protect public health). “We’ll have a decision on that soon,” he told reporters.
“As COVID restrictions in the U.S. wane and more populations have been excluded from the policy, this Trump era policy that was intentionally created to end access to asylum has lost all credibility, in addition to creating chaos and harm at the border,” Women’s Refugee Commission’s Katharina Obser said in a statement received by Daily Kos on Wednesday.
She said the administration “must ensure that organizations on the ground are an essential part of the planning, coordination, and are resourced to support and welcome those seeking protection.”
Republicans have no interest in governing, with advocates noting they’re already preparing to attack the administration for following U.S. asylum law. Republicans will feign outrage over Title 42’s rescission after spending a year falsely screaming about “open borders.” Many political reporters are also eagerly regurgitating that anti-immigrant panic and rhetoric. But fearing doing what’s right because of what Republicans might say is wrong, especially when they already say the worst anyway.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Tuesday added its voice to the calls for Title 42’s termination, writing that “it is long overdue to completely end the Trump-initiated Title 42 policy and stop using the pandemic as an excuse to keep it going. Transmission rates are low, there are safe testing and quarantining protocols, and vaccines are readily available. End Trump’s Title 42 now.”
Meanwhile, Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas issued a letter urging the Biden administration to keep the policy in place. That says so much. “Let’s be clear, Republicans are not interested in policy solutions, they are interested in using this issue for political gain and to castigate President Biden and the Democrats for wanting a path forward,” America’s Voice Deputy Director Vanessa Cárdenas said Wednesday.
RELATED STORIES:
'It’s past time to end' inhumane Title 42 order, advocates say on policy's second anniversary
Over 300 immigrant and civil rights groups urge Biden to end Stephen Miller's anti-asylum order
The decision is not yet final and determination should come in the next couple days, quite possibly hours. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing a March 30 deadline to review the policy.
RELATED STORY: Biden administration 'leaning toward' ending anti-asylum Title 42 order, report says
Calls for the president to end the flawed policy, which has used the pandemic as an excuse to quickly deport asylum-seekers in violation of their U.S. and international rights, have been consistent throughout his year-old administration.
They have intensified as the policy’s periodic review deadline has approached and as recent actions have shone a light on the policy’s arbitrary and discriminatory nature. That includes quickly deporting Haitian asylum-seekers, but then issuing a memo reminding U.S. border officers that they have discretion to exempt Ukrainians from the policy.
Listen to immigration activist Juan Escalante on Daily Kos’ The Brief podcast
Embedded Content
President Biden was questioned about the policy on Wednesday as he received his second booster dose (adding to the case that the U.S. can both respect the rights of asylum-seekers and protect public health). “We’ll have a decision on that soon,” he told reporters.
“As COVID restrictions in the U.S. wane and more populations have been excluded from the policy, this Trump era policy that was intentionally created to end access to asylum has lost all credibility, in addition to creating chaos and harm at the border,” Women’s Refugee Commission’s Katharina Obser said in a statement received by Daily Kos on Wednesday.
She said the administration “must ensure that organizations on the ground are an essential part of the planning, coordination, and are resourced to support and welcome those seeking protection.”
Republicans have no interest in governing, with advocates noting they’re already preparing to attack the administration for following U.S. asylum law. Republicans will feign outrage over Title 42’s rescission after spending a year falsely screaming about “open borders.” Many political reporters are also eagerly regurgitating that anti-immigrant panic and rhetoric. But fearing doing what’s right because of what Republicans might say is wrong, especially when they already say the worst anyway.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Tuesday added its voice to the calls for Title 42’s termination, writing that “it is long overdue to completely end the Trump-initiated Title 42 policy and stop using the pandemic as an excuse to keep it going. Transmission rates are low, there are safe testing and quarantining protocols, and vaccines are readily available. End Trump’s Title 42 now.”
Meanwhile, Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas issued a letter urging the Biden administration to keep the policy in place. That says so much. “Let’s be clear, Republicans are not interested in policy solutions, they are interested in using this issue for political gain and to castigate President Biden and the Democrats for wanting a path forward,” America’s Voice Deputy Director Vanessa Cárdenas said Wednesday.
RELATED STORIES:
'It’s past time to end' inhumane Title 42 order, advocates say on policy's second anniversary
Over 300 immigrant and civil rights groups urge Biden to end Stephen Miller's anti-asylum order