NILC Statement on President Biden’s Speech Announcing Expansion of Title 42 Expulsions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2023

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Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on President Biden’s Speech Announcing Expansion of Title 42 Expulsions

WASHINGTON — Lisa Graybill, vice president of law and policy at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s announcement of several initiatives at the U.S.-Mexico border, which include planned expansion of Title 42 expulsions, increased use and expansion of expedited removal, the revival of a Trump-era-like transit ban previously struck down by two federal courts, a cost-prohibitive and inadequate parole program for those fleeing from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and other harmful policies:

“For nearly three years, presidents of both parties have used the false pretext of public health to essentially cut off access to asylum in the United States under Title 42. While the recent Supreme Court ruling has temporarily forced the continuation of Title 42 expulsions, the Biden administration is choosing to expand Title 42 to Nicaraguans, Cubans, and Haitians, and introduce additional policies that further erode the legal right to seek asylum. The expanded expulsion policy is paired with new parole programs that will provide needed temporary relief to a small number of people. However, this relief should not come at the expense of more people being subjected to this cruel relic of the Trump administration that has immeasurably harmed thousands of people.

“With Republicans continuing to block any chance of Congressional action that would improve our outdated and broken immigration system, it is imperative that the Biden administration not embrace right-wing talking points by doubling down on failed deterrence practices. Instead, we urge the administration to follow through on its campaign promise to end Trump’s detrimental policies, commit to respecting our asylum laws, and build a 21st century immigration system that recognizes the dignity and humanity inherent in us all.”

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