Title 42, a Trump-era immigration policy that gutted the asylum process, will end on May 23

CHICAGO – Immigrant community advocates in Illinois welcome the Biden Administration’s decision to end Title 42, a Trump-era immigration policy that allows the expulsion of asylum seekers at the southern border without due process under the guise of public health order. The policy will end on May 23. Members and leaders with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights reacted to the White House’s announcement:

“Though we look forward to the end of Title 42, President Biden cannot simply replace it with other harmful practices, such as the expanded Remain in Mexico policy,” said Daysi Funes, executive director of Centro Romero. “Ending Title 42 can start the process of restoring asylum at the border. Now what our communities need is a fair chance - this means access to the asylum process, including access to counsel, for all asylum seekers, without resorting to detention or harmful surveillance technology.”

“The horrific images from last summer showing U.S. Border Patrol agents on horseback chasing fleeing Haitian families is just one example of Title 42’s disproportionate impact on Black migrants,” said Fasika Alem, programs director at United African Organization. “It is long past time to end Title 42. Though we welcome this change, the onus remains on President Biden to create a fair and dignified system that allows all people to seek asylum, including Black migrants who have been denied that right for the past two years.”

“The attacks on our communities from anti-immigrant members of Congress are ramping up, and we won’t stand by while they blame us for their own failures,” said Lawrence Benito, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. “The reality is that our state and our nation are at our best when we welcome immigrants and refugees. ICIRR and our members statewide, including United African Organization and Centro Romero, are fighting for our communities and ready to welcome migrants to Illinois.”