Biden Administration Announces New Immigration Policies for Venezuela

This past week, the Biden Administration announced an expansion of a Trump-era policy to curb immigration. The policy, known as Title 42, allows for the denial of asylum requests and immediate expulsion of migrants from certain countries. Under the new expansion of the policy, Venezuelan migrants now fall under Title 42’s scope. Along with the expansion announcement, another parole program was announced that would allow 24,000 eligible Venezuelans to enter the United States.

Key Quotes: Speaking on the immigration policy developments, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that “those who follow the lawful process will have the opportunity to travel safely to the United States and become eligible to work here.” The ACLU, which has condemned the decision to expand Title 42, said in a statement that “people have a right to seek asylum – regardless of where they came from, how they arrive in the United States, and whether or not they have family here.”

For Context: Title 42 was implemented after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent disease transmission among migrants awaiting asylum claims, and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. The Biden Administration previously attempted to end the policy, but the move was struck down by a federal judge.

How the Media Covered it: Some outlets speculated the Biden Administration’s decision was connected to pressure to act on immigration before next month’s midterms. Both immigration policies were typically reported on together.