What is Title 42?
In 2020, before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in America, the United States government, still in charge of Donald Trump, issued an order that closed the asylum system of that country on its border with Mexico.
The decision was subject to the public health alert issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whose goal, it was reported at the time, was to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“(Ordered) the suspension of the right to bring persons into the United States from designated foreign countries or places for public health purposes (…) The suspension means the temporary cessation of the effect of any law, rule, decree or order in under which a person may have the right to be introduced or request introduction into the United States,” the mandate established.
However, Title 42 allowed authorities to quickly remove migrants who were at the land borders of the United States, in addition to denying them any type of medical attention. And although it had a temporary deadline due to the pandemic, the order was extended several times.
According to the agency EFE —which cites government documents—, since this measure began to be implemented, the United States has resorted to Title 42 more than 1.8 million times to expel migrants to Mexico or their countries of origin, without allowing them to request asylum.
On April 1 of this year, the CDC announced plans to rescind the order, believing it is no longer necessary given current public health conditions and the increased availability of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.
