US Supports Increased Flow of Migrants

A federal judge in Louisiana said Monday that he plans to temporarily block the Biden administration from lifting a controversial Trump-era border order known as Title 42.

The move complicates the Biden administration's plan to next month rescind the order that allows border agents to expel immigrants at the border during the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly.

Judge Robert Summerhays, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, said he would grant a request from Missouri, Louisiana, and Arizona to temporarily keep Title 42 in place as he mulls over the case.

"We applaud the Court for approving our request for a Temporary Restraining Order to keep Title 42 in place," Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said. "The Biden administration cannot continue in flagrant disregard for existing laws and required administrative procedures."

In early April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that available COVID-19 mitigation tools and decreases in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations make Title 42 "no longer necessary."

Title 42, enacted by the CDC in March 2020, also blocks migrants from the chance to seek asylum in the U.S. The agency cited controlling the spread of COVID-19 as justification for the order.

But the decision has led the Biden administration into such a sticky political situation that a court ruling on the issue might come as a relief.

The Biden administration's plan to rescind Title 42 prompted criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, who worry it would encourage a surge of immigrants at the border. Republicans in Congress have been trying to target the Biden administration's decision to end Title 42 in legislation. It's unclear how the judge's ruling will affect their efforts on Capitol Hill.

On the other hand, President Joe Biden has long faced pressure from immigration activists to lift Title 42. Several Democrats argue the order is illegal and counter to his stated goals of restoring fairness to the immigration system.

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