Closing summary
The pandemic-era Title 42 restrictions that turned away many asylum seekers at the US border have expired, but immigration authorities said the surge in new migrants some expected to see today has not materialized. That could be because Joe Biden’s administration put in place its own hardline rules to keep border crossers out of the United States. Expect to hear more about this story next week.
Here’s a recap of today’s news:
Lawmakers from New York City want the Biden administration to allow more asylum seekers to work, arguing it would be better for the economy and communities.
The state department announced a new website intended to educate migrants about how to legally enter the United States.
The homeland security department complained that a Florida judge’s ruling blocking plans to more quickly release migrants from Border Patrol detention could complicate its ability to handle new arrivals.
The American Civil Liberties Union sued over the Biden administration’s new restrictions, arguing they were similar to rules implemented under Donald Trump.
A 17-year-old Honduran boy was found dead in a Florida shelter, the homeland security department said. He had entered the country as an unaccompanied minor.
A Democratic House lawmaker representing a district along Arizona’s border with Mexico has asked Joe Biden to deploy the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help communities manage new migrant arrivals.
“As the humanitarian crisis unfolds at the Arizona-Mexico border, the urgency to coordinate directly with lead agencies and non-governmental organizations must be a priority. I ask that you immediately work to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel as they manage and process migrants,” wrote Raúl Grijalva, whose district encompassed much of the state’s international frontier.
“Previously, Fema has assisted processing young migrants and supported efforts to localize housing and medical care. This directive would provide Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with the necessary support during this time of high levels of migration. We must ensure that CBP has the capacity to process asylum seekers at ports of entry in a timely, orderly, fair and humane manner.”
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