Title 42

“A shameful attempt to incite fear and score political points.” Criticism and condemnation came quickly from immigrant rights organizations – and Texas lawmakers on both sides of the aisle – after President Biden issued an executive order Tuesday that would limit asylum claims.

One of the new U.S. rules says you can't request asylum unless you've already been denied in another country. Mexico is getting more applications than ever, and crowded shelters have turn people away.

Against the backdrop of hundreds of Texas National Guard units boarding military airplanes at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Abbott announced the deployment of a new operations unit in anticipation of the border health policy known as Title 42 ending later this week. The pandemic-era public health order allows for the rapid expulsion of some migrants.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said during a visit to Texas that the administration will enforce measures that he hopes will discourage migrants from making the dangerous journey to the United States.

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church will receive migrants five days a week instead of weekly after the pandemic-era border policy known as Title 42 ends.

While the number of asylum seekers arriving in El Paso has local officials scrambling to ensure safety for migrants and city residents, officials are preparing for an even larger influx. Title 42, a pandemic-era rule that allows federal officials to rapidly expel migrants, is scheduled to be lifted May 11 at 11:59 p.m.

The declarations came as migrants are camped out just across the Rio Grande in anticipation of the end of Title 42. After three years of allowing for rapid expulsions, the policy will be lifted May 11.

Still others tepidly applaud the administration's efforts to allow for more legal migration.

The tragedy prompted immigrant rights organizations to point the finger at Biden for what they said are policies that lead to the “criminalization” of asylum seekers in the United States and Mexico.

Immigration limits set last year because of COVID-19 were supposed to expire Wednesday, but the Supreme Court ordered those limits to stay in place past Christmas. Now, volunteers at a Dallas church are working daily to provide food, clothing and shelter for asylum-seekers ahead of the holidays and an extreme cold front.

A controversial public health order that’s been rapidly expelling migrants from the U.S. was supposed to end Wednesday. But as Title 42 remains in place migrants are unsure about their future and need to seek shelter as a strong cold front approaches.

Pandemic border restrictions known as Title 42 will continue, at least for now, after the Supreme Court granted a stay to Republican state attorneys general as many migrants wait to cross the border.