What to Expect When Title 42 Ends on Thursday

Title 42 immigration restrictions will end tomorrow, May 11. Migrants, border cities, and immigration officials on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border are bracing for what happens next. 

For Context: The CDC implemented Title 42 in March 2020 to limit migrants entering the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Title 42 restrictions ending, the Biden administration is planning to automatically deny asylum to migrants who passed through third countries and did not seek asylum there. Rising numbers of migrants are reportedly already overwhelming border officials, and the Biden administration is preparing to allow some vetted migrants who crossed the border illegally into the country without a court date or a way to track them.

Latest Developments: Discussing a Tuesday call with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President Joe Biden said the border was “going to be chaotic for a while.” Earlier in May, Biden said he would send 1,500 troops to the border to help with administrative tasks while border agents focused on enforcement. On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he was sending the National Guard’s Texas Tactical Border Force “to help intercept and repel large groups of migrants.”

How the Media Covered It: As with other stories, news outlets on the right were much less likely to publish “explainer” or analysis content on Title 42. However, they were more likely to focus on criticisms of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Coverage from the left appeared more likely to highlight humanitarian concerns for the migrants.