AFP extension
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
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Mary DeVries
Correspondent from the United States
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Mary DeVries
Correspondent from the United States
The US Supreme Court ruled that migrants could be banned from the Mexico border for slightly longer under a coronavirus-era emergency law. In fact, this arrangement, called Title 42, be suspended tomorrow.
The Supreme Court postponed it for a short time after a request from several states. The judges now want to hear the Biden administration’s arguments as to why the emergency measure should be lifted.
In the border city of El Paso, Texas, the mayor has now declared a state of emergency due to the growing migrant crisis. Last week alone, more than two thousand migrants from South and Central America crossed the border. They are forced to sleep outside because all shelters are full.
In El Paso, people hold their breath for what’s to come. There is hope among migrants. Report from the heavily guarded border:
“Perhaps 6,000 migrants a day will arrive in the border city”
Declaring a state of emergency frees up money from the state, which El Paso wants to use to increase reception capacity and for the transport of migrants.
This is the case with title 42
The impending suspension of Title 42 is why so many people are now crossing the border illegally. The law was introduced in 2020 by then-President Trump and has made it easier to refuse and deport migrants at the border during the coronavirus pandemic.
A federal judge had previously ruled that the corona virus can no longer be a reason to keep migrants out. For this reason, thousands of migrants a day are expected at the border from this week.
The White House responded ahead of the revocation with a plan to expand the Border Patrol, among other things. It may take some time, which is why El Paso wants to respond faster to the situation in the city by declaring a state of emergency.
