US border cities prepare for migrant influx as Title 42 ends

The United States is about to begin a new chapter in its fraught immigration policy. At midnight on Thursday, a provision that built a procedural wall against migrants – if not a physical one – is set to expire. American communities along the Mexican border are preparing for an influx of humanity, which has already begun in some areas.

The provision, known as Title 42, is part of the public health code that the Trump administration invoked to restrict immigration three years ago. Arguing for the need to protect the nation against COVID-19, the government used the code to turn away asylum-seekers and other migrants at the border without the chance to seek protection. Though challenged in court, the controversial policy continued under the Biden administration, resulting in more than 2.8 million expulsions since March 2020 – including those who tried to cross more than once.

But with the COVID-19 public health emergency sunsetting in the U.S. this week, so too does the immigration provision, coinciding with the time of year when attempted border crossings traditionally increase. To prepare for an expected increase, the Biden administration on Wednesday finalized a rule that further restricts access to asylum. Deployment of troops and other personnel to the southwest border, along with funding boosts to border communities, is