Title 42's Impact on Migrant Border Crossings and Political Response

The implementation of Title 42 at the U.S.-Mexico border during the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed the nationalities of migrants arriving at the border. While initially only Mexicans and some Central Americans were expelled under Title 42, over time more migrants from other parts of the Western Hemisphere and the world arrived at the border. The Biden administration lifted Title 42 on May 11, but put in place a new regulation that bars most migrants from asylum if they cross the border illegally and have not sought protection in another country they passed through or used legal alternatives for U.S. admission.