Biden expands Title 42, drawing criticism from activist groups

The Biden administration opted to expand a pandemic-era immigration policy known as Title 42, President Biden announced Thursday. The policy increases expulsions of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The policy allows migrants to be turned back without addressing their requests for asylum. The goal is to reduce the number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, especially following the rampant criticism of Democratic immigration policies by Republicans, explains the Los Angeles Times. "These actions alone ... aren't going to fix our entire immigration system, but they can help us a good deal in better managing what is a difficult challenge," Biden said in his announcement of the policy expansion.
His decision has caused criticism from Democrats and human rights groups. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said, "the administration is circumventing immigration law which will exacerbate chaos and confusion at the Southern border," asserting that the policy allows the U.S. to avoid its asylum responsibility and only helps a few select people.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) tweeted, "Access to asylum is a life-saving legal right — restricting it runs contrary to our laws and the Biden administration's promises."
The International Refugee Assistance Program strongly denounced Biden's action in a statement writing that those whose "lives and freedoms are at risk will be forced to remain in danger and find someone in the United States with the means to financially sponsor them for parole," adding, "The administration must reverse course immediately."
Biden has called for bipartisan legislation to tackle the issue. "If the most extreme Republicans continue to demagogue this issue, and reject solutions, I'm left with only one choice: To act on my own, do as much as I can on my own," he said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Trump's LA immigration showdown casts shadow over upcoming World Cup
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Amid a massive anti-immigrant detention push, analysts have begun to worry about the United States' plan to host one of the world's biggest athletic events
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Is Trump's LA troop deployment about order or authoritarianism?
Talking Points President: 'We're going to have troops everywhere.'
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests
-
Deportations: A crackdown on legal migrants
Feature The Supreme Court will allow Trump to revoke protections for over 500,000 immigrants