The US government is ready to handle a potential influx of migrants next month after the lifting of restrictions that for two years allowed the immediate deportation of migrants arrested at the border, officials said on Tuesday.
Joe Biden’s administration will put in place a “comprehensive strategy” to deal with an increase in arrivals of asylum seekers and refugees after the end of this device called “Title 42”, scheduled for May 23, said these sources.
Migrants will then be able to apply for humanitarian leave, a move that critics say could overburden border authorities and allow hundreds of thousands of migrants to remain on US soil while their applications are considered.
Those who have no reason to be admitted to the United States, especially if they attempt to cross the border multiple times, may be subject to prosecution, nuance the executive officials.
“Simply put, when Title 42 is lifted, asylum and other legal avenues of migration will remain open to those seeking protection, and those who do not meet the criteria will be expeditiously removed,” a senior official summed up. condition of anonymity.
The Biden administration, aware of a Louisiana judge’s intention to suspend the lifting of “Title 42”, put in place by former Republican President Donald Trump, has indicated that it will comply with this judicial decision. when it becomes official.
But such an order from the judge “would not be logical”, because it “would prevent us from properly preparing for the systematic implementation of migration law” when the health situation no longer justifies the use of these restrictions linked to COVID- 19.
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has indeed claimed that these measures are “no longer necessary” due to “the greater availability of tools to fight COVID-19”.
Migration flows, down sharply at the start of the pandemic, had started to increase again before Joe Biden took office more than a year ago, but clearly jumped afterwards.
Most migrants arrive from Central and Latin America, but some come from as far away as South Asia, and recently from Ukraine.
US government officials have said they are increasing cooperation with Central American states to slow the flow of migrants, return migrants to their countries and expand the fight against smuggling groups.
But they acknowledged that the presence of large migrant camps on the Mexican side of the southern border could lead to a rapid spike in arrivals if Title 42 is lifted.