Already, tens of thousands of people have come to the border crossings in Mexico, waiting for the so-called “Title 42” to expire on the night of Friday local time. And thousands have already entered the United States.
Texas cities such as El Paso, Brownsville and Laredo have declared states of emergency as they try to deal with the hundreds of people – mostly from Latin America, but also some from China, Russia and Turkey – who are already there.
When asked if the United States is ready to accept anyone who wants to enter the country, Biden answers:
– It remains to be seen. It will be chaotic for a while.
The exception in US border policy, called “Title 42”, was introduced in the spring of 2020 under then-President Donald Trump. It is part of federal legislation that deals with public health issues and provides, under certain conditions, the ability to reject or deport people without an asylum application to stop the spread of infectious diseases.
The use of “Title 42”, effectively closing the border with Mexico, has been described by critics as a way to try to stop immigration to the United States.
Biden has ordered 1,500 soldiers to the border, where they are expected to help border police take care of asylum seekers.