Should COVID-related immigration restrictions be lifted?

At the beginning of the pandemic, the United States government put various restrictions in place to limit the number of immigrants entering the country. Some of these restrictions included temporarily ending asylum rights and the ability to immediately turn individuals away who were trying to enter the country at the southern border. An estimated 1.7 million people have been turned away without the opportunity to seek asylum since Title 42 was enacted.

What is Title 42?

Title 42 is the temporary provision put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the prior presidential administration in 2020. This gave health authorities the ability to prevent people from coming into the United States due to concerns over the spread of communicable diseases. For the most part, the current administration has kept Title 42 in place, with the exception being in cases involving children unaccompanied by an adult.

Recently, the CDC announced that Title 42 is no longer necessary. The current plan is to lift these restrictions at the end of May. Many officials in politics and health have said that the restrictions on asylum seekers is unnecessary and not based on science.

Political battles over immigration

Immigration continues to be the center for various political battles involving COVID response, federal funding and more. While Title 42 remains in effect, those seeking asylum may benefit from the assistance of an experienced Michigan immigration attorney who can help them address their concerns. This guidance may be invaluable as one is trying to navigate the immigration process and avoid additional setbacks.