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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ruled in favor of maintaining Title 42 — a public health authority order that lets immigration authorities expel migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border — regardless of opposition from many Biden administration supporters. More than 1 million migrants have been expelled since the policy was implemented early in the pandemic. CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund said the agency’s latest reassessment took into consideration the pandemic’s current impact across the U.S. and at the border, “taking special note of the surge in cases and hospitalizations since December due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.” CNN
Biden Administration, Florida Gov. in Heated Argument Over Care of Migrant Children
Newly obtained internal documents highlight the ongoing conflict between the Biden administration and Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been threatening to stop shelters in Florida from providing care to migrant children. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last week, Florida’s general counsel accused the federal government participating in a “human trafficking scheme.” HHS said DeSantis’ threat raises “serious legal concerns” and has threatened to pursue the matter with the Justice Department. Since 2005, shelters in Florida have cared for migrant children who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border alone until they can be handed over to a sponsor, a parent, or relative in the U.S. CNN
