The United States has not resumed processing of all asylum seekers

On November 8, the United States reopened its borders to international travelers with a few exceptions, but the policy change caused some confusion.

Matthew Davies, executive director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), recently said the agency saw an increase in misinformation, including from smugglers, about who can cross the border American.

Has the United States resumed processing of all asylum seekers?

No, the United States has not resumed processing of all asylum seekers.

When the pandemic began in March 2020, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a public health order under Title 42 of the United States Code to stop treatment of asylum seekers. due to the risk of COVID-19. This means that if an asylum seeker arrived in the United States after the order was issued, they were either returned to their home country or to the last country they were in – often Mexico.

Asylum seekers have been turned away more than a million times since the start of the pandemic, according to CBP data, and many are currently waiting in border towns for the end of the Title 42 order.

In October, when the White House announced that the border would reopen on November 8 to international visitors with the appropriate documents, it said in a proclamation that there would be no change to the Title 42 public health order.

“Starting November 8, fully vaccinated and documented non-citizens will be able to cross land borders through ports of entry with Canada and Mexico or arrive in the United States by ferry for non-essential reasons,” Davies said. during a conference call with CBP. . “It is important to note that these changes apply to legal land border crossings at ports of entry and to foreign nationals who have the proper documents to enter the United States. Any foreign national attempting to enter the United States other than at a legal point of entry or without proper documentation will be subject to border restrictions, including deportation.

Some groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), are suing to force the United States to restart the asylum process soon, but as long as the Title 42 order remains in effect, asylum seekers can still be turned away.

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