FSW pleased that Biden administration plans to end Title 42, but advocates for quicker action

After two years of advocates calling for the end of Title 42 and witnessing its harmful effects on the lives of many migrants in northern Mexico, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the termination of Title 42 – the policy that authorizes rapid expulsion of migrants at the border due to COVID-19. 

The  controversial order–that has been criticized for not having any public health rationale and has been denounced by more than 1,300 medical professionals from 49 U.S. states and territories– will continue to be implemented until May 23, 2022.

Fellowship Southwest embraces the commitment of the Biden administration to terminate Title 42. This administration understands that it cannot continue to expel migrants to Mexico and expose them to kidnappings, torture, rape, and aggression. The time has come to welcome all refugees, regardless of their racial or ethnic background.

However, Elket Rodríguez, a minister and attorney who works with pastors serving migrants on the border, says, “There is no valid reason to extend the policy even until May 23. Title 42 has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that expelling migrants and denying them access to asylum processing does not work to avoid the spread of COVID-19, deter migrants from seeking safety or address increases in border crossers. On the contrary, expelling migrants encourages repeat border crossers and increases the work of immigration officials.” 

Many Americans have made it clear that they are ready to live as they did before the pandemic, so the border should not be an exception to that. The people we are receiving at our border are in as urgent need of help as the refugees coming from Ukraine. We must respond with the same level of urgency and process their claims for asylum before more unnecessary harm is done.

Fellowship Southwest has written about our position against Title 42 many times. You can read those stories here.