https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/8/timeline-title-42-expulsions-at-the-us-mexico-border
As of May 11, 2023, Title 42 will have been expired, terminating the restriction on allowing asylum seekers into the US through the US-Mexico border. From the previous administration, under President Trump, Title 42 was put into place in order to deal with public health, welfare, and rights under the ever-spreading Covid-19 virus. It also allowed for US authorities to turn away almost all asylum seekers at the borders. Many claimed that this was another excuse to restrict immigration, regardless, it would eventually lead to the expulsion of more than 2.8 million people. However, in collaboration with the CDC, the US has announced that the COVID-19 pandemic will officially “end” on the 11th, effectively eliminating the restrictions.
This comes over a year after the CDC officially announced that the Title 42 order is no longer necessary, and won’t drastically affect the spread of the virus. In accordance with what the CDC had reported, the US Secretary of Homeland Security announced that they would stop following in accordance with the Title 42 expulsions. However, this was immediately met with a nationwide injunction barring the Biden Administration from lifting Title 42. This was backed by two dozen states intending to sue the federal government for the lift. Since, there have been multiple requests filed by organizations such as the ACLU, and other groups to help end the “capricious and arbitrary” policy. This left us to January, when the US announced the pandemic will end on May 11, and that would been the de facto expiration fo the Title 42. Making all cases and files irrelevant, as it would no longer be in place.
In preparation for the end of the pandemic, the Biden administration has announced plans to send additional troops to the border (almost 1500), and has opened two new migrant processing centers to help expedite screenings and deportations. The opening of the border will follow in accordance with the assumption that the US will experience the highest number of immigrants within the past 20 years. This has, of course, caused a divide between the houses, with many Republicans claiming it would be a mistake to open the borders, and that the restriction should remain in place. Ultimately, the results of the openings have yet to be seen, and so far we can only hope that the administrations in place, and the organizations responsible with making the process as smooth as possible do an adequate job within the coming weeks and months.