CDC Extends Trump-Era Policy That Allows Migrants to Be Expelled at U.S. Border Over COVID Concerns

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended a Trump-era border policy that would allow migrants to be expelled over COVID concerns. In a statement, the agency confirmed the extension of "Title 42" on Monday, August 2, USA Today reported.

The CDC first issued the policy under the Trump administration last year. Title 42 allows U.S. officials to send back migrants to Mexico without having a chance to seek asylum or other protections in the United States.

CDC Extends Trump Era's 'Title 42' Over COVID Concerns

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky signed an order that would replace the one issued in October 2020. While Title 42 is in effect, the agency underscored that the policy would be reviewed every 60 days to make sure it is still necessary, Reuters reported.

The CDC further noted that the Trump-era policy would be in effect "until the CDC director determines that the danger of further introduction of COVID-19" into the U.S. from the "noncitizens" is no longer a danger to the public health.

Title 42 would allow officials from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to expel undocumented migrants in holding facilities to prevent the further spread of the notorious disease. However, children and some families are exempted from the policy.

The extension of Title 42 came as the number of migrants such as children, families, and adults coming to the U.S.-Mexico border swelled. In June, the CBP encountered a "yearly high" of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, with at least 188,829 migrants encountered.

The Biden administration expelled the majority of the migrants coming to the border under the said Trump-era policy. But the Department of Homeland and Security said in a statement that "Title 42 is not an immigration authority, but a public health authority and its continued use is dictated by CDC and governed by CDC's analysis of public health factors."

ACLU, Other Groups Oppose CDC's 'Title 42'

As Title 42 was extended by the CDC, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other immigrant rights groups resumed a lawsuit challenging the said policy.

The lawsuit was filed under the Trump administration and was put on hold when President Joe Biden took office.

"We gave the Biden administration, but it had left us no choice but to return to court," ACLU's attorney Lee Gelernt said. Gelernt was known to be the lead lawyer on this case.

Despite the opposition, the Biden administration, through White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, reiterated that Title 42 was a "public health measure."

"The CDC is going to continue to provide guidance on how long it needs to be in place," said Psaki, adding that the agency did not disclose yet the timeline of when the Title 42 would be lifted.

Apart from ACLU, the said lawsuit, asking to end the use of the "inhumane" Trump-era expulsion policy, was filed with the Texas Civil Rights Project, RAICES, Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, and Oxfam.

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Title 42 Policy Still in Place - From KRGV