As the Biden Administration prepares for the end the public health emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11, 2023, this likely signals the end of Title 42 at the border, a policy used to expel large numbers of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The New York Times first reported an anticipation of an uptick in migration at the border after Title 42’s end, and the Department of Homeland Security has reportedly discussed reviving the family detention policy largely used in the Trump era. However, the White House has declined to comment and a Homeland Security spokesperson affirms that no decision has been made on this policy. The discussion has raised an outcry from Democratic lawmakers, who expected the Biden administration to adopt more humane immigration practices than his predecessor.
As the end of the public health emergency draws nearer, the outcome of this decision may become clearer. But at the moment, there is no saying what the Biden Administration will do to address the potential uptick in migration at the border.