Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-preps-possible-spike-border-crossings-officials-mull-lifting-covid-curbs-2022-03-29/
United States officials are facing a challenge with the anticipated influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border if COVID restrictions are released. The policy, put into place in March 2020 under the Trump administration, is called Title 42 COVID-19 health order. Implemented by the CDC, there is now a deadline this week to address the future of this policy: renew, modify, or terminate. This title gives US border agents the power to ‘expel’ or send migrants to Mexico or other countries rapidly without the opportunity to seek asylum in the US in an attempt to curb COVID-19 cases. Officials, specifically immigrant rights advocates, democrats, and health experts, make the case that this policy no longer is supported with scientific evidence and could be causing more danger to immigrants. Now, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other organizations are preparing for tens of thousands of migrants to arrive within hours of Title 42 being lifted and more than one million would follow from southern Mexico.
Immigration has been a major headline in political debates across the country. After former President Trump sought to implement policy at the US-Mexico border to reduce levels of legal and illegal immigrants, the new Biden administration has promised to repeal Trump’s most harsh immigration policies. The Title 42 will be an important sign of President Biden’s intentions with immigration policy, as it is no longer scientifically supported. As United States health officials loosen COVID restrictions and the DHS and FEMA plan for the influx of immigrants I expect the policy to be lifted by the Biden administration rather than stay in place.
Internal politics in the United States have been largely affected by the situation at our southern border. For years Democrats and Republicans have been split on the issue. This correlates to the Political System that we discussed in class where citizens input demands and wishes and politicians produce outputs through actions and policy. Also like we talked about in class, empty promises by politicians is a part of the system and especially on the issue of immigration in America, empty promises are frequent and expected. Immigrants on the Mexican-American border have been held there for a while and intend on seeking amnesty in the United States, however, with Title 42 it creates an even more dangerous situation for some as they are being sent away.