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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 21 december 2022

Suspense builds at border over future of U.S. asylum rules

By MORGAN LEE, GIOVAN-
NA DELL'ORTO and REBEC-
CA SANTANA Associated
Press
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Sus-
pense mounted at the U.S.
border with Mexico on
Tuesday about the future of
restrictions on asylum-seek-
ers as the Supreme Court is-
sued a temporary order to
keep pandemic-era limits
on migrants in place.
C o n s e r v a t i v e - l e a n i n g
states won a reprieve —
though it could be brief —
as they push to maintain
a measure that allows of-
ficials to expel many but
not all asylum-seekers. In a
last-ditch appeal to the Su-
preme Court, they argued
that an increased numbers
of migrants would take a
toll on public services such
as law enforcement and
health care and warned
of an "unprecedented ca-
lamity" at the southern bor-
der. U.S. military guard El Paso’s border with Mexico, seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022.
Chief Justice John Roberts Associated Press
granted a stay pending
further order, asking the Despite the court's stay, the ment included forces used Venezuelan town of Gua- southern border, accord-
administration of President city of El Paso rushed to ex- to "repel and turn-back ille- icaipuro, said he traveled ing to the White House.
Joe Biden to respond by pand its ability to accom- gal immigrants," according for three months to reach Immigration advocates
5 p.m. Tuesday. That's just modate more migrants by to a Texas National Guard El Paso, sometimes on foot, have said that the Title 42
hours before restrictions are converting large buildings statement. with no money or sponsors restrictions, imposed under
slated to expire Wednes- into shelters, as the Red A flashing signed warned to take him further. provisions of a 1944 health
day. Cross brings in 10,000 cots. motorists to "watch for un- "I have to stop here until law, go against American
The Department of Home- Local officials also hope to expected pedestrians" on I can get a ticket" out, he and international obliga-
land Security, which is re- relieve pressure on local a highway that extends said. tions to people fleeing to
sponsible for enforcing shelters by chartering buses along the fenced-off bor- El Paso residents Roberto the U.S. to escape persecu-
border security, acknowl- to other large cities in Texas der, near three bridges that Lujan and Daniela Cente- tion — and that the pretext
edged Roberts' order — or nearby states, bringing connect El Paso with Mex- no handed out fruit, Hostess is outdated as coronavirus
and said the agency would migrants a step closer to ico. cakes, soda and chips at a treatments improve. They
continue "preparations to relatives and sponsors in At a church-affiliated shel- street corner. sued to end the use of Title
manage the border in a coordination with nonprofit ter a few blocks from the "I have to do it," said Lujan, 42; a federal judge in No-
safe, orderly, and humane groups. border, migrants including a 39-year-old construction vember sided with them
way when the Title 42 pub- "We will continue to be pre- children lined up early af- worker. "I have kids and I and set the Dec. 21 dead-
lic health order lifts." pared for whatever is com- ternoon Monday in hopes know the struggle." line.
Migrants have been de- ing through," Leeser said. of securing a bed for the C o n s e r v a t i v e - l e a n i n g The Roman Catholic bish-
nied rights to seek asylum Troops in tactical gear un- night, accepting donations states have argued that op of El Paso, Mark Seitz,
under U.S. and internation- der Texas state command of food from a succession the federal government expressed concern that
al law 2.5 million times since on Tuesday used razor wire of cars bearing gifts. Police has no plan to deal with the stay would keep mi-
March 2020 on grounds of to cordon off a gap in the and municipal garbage an increase in migrants — grants who had to flee their
preventing the spread of border fence along a bank workers arrived to remove while in Washington, Re- homes from even making a
COVID-19 under a public- of the Rio Grande that abandoned blankets and publicans are set to take case for protection in the
health rule called Title 42. became a popular cross- discarded possessions. control of the House and U.S., after years of pent-up
With the decision on what ing point in recent days The Rev. Michael Gallagh- make immigration a key is- need.
comes next going down to for migrants who waded er, a priest at Sacred Heart sue. "What happens now with
the wire, pressure is building through shallow waters to Church in downtown El Biden administration of- all those on their way?" he
in communities along both approach immigration of- Paso, said local faith lead- ficials said they have mar- said.
sides of the U.S-Mexico bor- ficials. ers have been trying to shaled more resources to Title 42 restrictions have
der. Texas said Monday that it pool resources and open the border in preparation applied to all nationalities
In El Paso, Democratic May- was sending 400 National up empty space. On Tues- for the end of Title 42. That but have fallen dispropor-
or Oscar Leeser warned Guard personnel to El Paso, day, a gym at the church includes more Border Patrol tionately on those from
that shelters across the bor- after city officials declared gave shelter to 200 mi- processing coordinators, countries that Mexico has
der in Ciudad Juárez are a state of emergency. grants — mostly women more surveillance and in- agreed to take back: Gua-
packed to capacity with Leeser said the declara- and children. creased security at ports of temala, Honduras, El Sal-
an estimated 20,000 mi- tion was aimed largely at Outside the church Mon- entry. vador and, more recently
grants who are prepared protecting vulnerable mi- day, Jose Natera, a 48-year- About 23,000 agents are Venezuela, in addition to
to cross into the U.S. grants, while the deploy- old handyman from the currently deployed to the Mexico.q