Rep. Escobar 'disappointed' Title 42 is extended indefinitely
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — The Biden Administration announced Monday that they wanted to extend Title 42.
Title 42 is the Trump-era policy that allows for the swift expulsion of migrants at the US-Mexico border.
El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar told KFOX14 she isn’t happy that President Biden would indefinably extend Title 42.
“Having witnessed firsthand the destruction of our immigration system and processing by the previous administration. I knew that it would take time to rebuild, but I’m very disappointed,” Escobar said.
President Trump implemented the policy when the COVID-19 pandemic first started affecting the U.S. in March 2020.
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Escobar and other advocates were hopeful the Biden administration would reverse Title 42, but with the Delta variant spreading across the country that didn’t happen.
Now the congresswoman said she would like to see new policies in place to help asylum seekers.
“For me, due process means providing legal representation for asylum seekers. Representation for asylum seekers, allowing them the opportunity to fight their case. Not everyone will qualify for asylum and many families and individuals will have to repatriate. But they deserve a fighting shot that’s what our country was founded on,” Escobar said.
Escobar said she would like to see the government collaborate with Mexico to allow those who qualify for asylum to be able to do so humanely.
The Biden administration has said that the increase in COVID-19 cases is what contributed to the decision of keeping the Trump-era policy intact.
Since the President made the announcement earlier this week, many groups are now suing to end Title 42 including the Texas Civil Rights Project, and the ACLU of Texas.
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