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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 19 april 2022
Migrant crossings spike as U.S. plans to lift curb on asylum

By BEN FOX extension of Title 42 au-
Associated Press thority. Sen. Mark Kelly, an
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mi- Arizona Democrat up for
grants attempted to cross election this year, toured
the U.S.-Mexico border at the border last week and
the highest level in two de- warned that the Biden ad-
cades as the U.S. prepares ministration is unprepared
for even larger numbers for asylum restrictions to be
with the expected lifting of lifted.
a pandemic-era order that The rapid expulsions un-
turned away asylum seek- der Title 42 are a signifi-
ers. cant component of the in-
Immigration authorities crease. Migrants are turned
stopped migrants 221,303 back without any legal
times along the Southwest consequences, and many
border in March, a 34% in- simply try to cross again
crease from a month ear- and are therefore counted
lier, according to U.S. Cus- more than once in the to-
toms and Border Protection tal.
data filed with a federal More than half of the
court in Texas. 221,303 stopped were
The new figures were dis- quickly turned away, with-
closed as the Biden ad- out being given a chance
ministration comes under to apply for asylum, either
increasing pressure over Migrants rest in a dormitory of the Good Samaritan shelter in Juarez, Mexico, on March 29, 2022. to Mexico or their home-
the looming expiration of Associated Press lands, according to data
a public health order that seek asylum, as well as dire July, and the highest level pelled migrants more than supplied to a federal court
enabled U.S. authorities to economic and political since March 2000, when it 1.7 million times under Title in Texas as part of that
turn back most migrants, conditions in much of Latin reached 220,063. 42 authority, named for a state's challenge of Biden
including people seeking America and the Caribbe- Former President Donald 1944 public health law, us- administration immigration
asylum from persecution. an, is partially responsible Trump also faced a sharp ing the threat of COVID-19 policies.
The number of migrant for the increase in migrants. increase in migrant border to deny migrants a chance Most of the rest were pro-
encounters has gone up Administration critics blame crossings but the number to seek asylum as required cessed under immigration
nearly every month since Biden, arguing his adminis- plummeted with the start under U.S. law and interna- authority, known as Title 8,
President Joe Biden took tration's moves to roll back of the pandemic. In March tional treaty. and their ultimate fate var-
office, becoming fodder Trump-era policies has en- 2020, the previous admin- With COVID-19 cases in ies. About 34,000 were al-
for political opponents who couraged people to come. istration invoked Title 42, decline, the Biden admin- lowed to remain in the U.S.
point to the increase as evi- The number of illegal cross- a little-used public health istration has said it intends under parole, which will al-
dence that this administra- ings, or those outside offi- authority to quickly expel to end the use of Title 42 at low them to pursue asylum
tion is weaker on border se- cial ports of entry, totaled nearly anyone encoun- the border on May 23. or legal residency through
curity than its predecessor. 209,906 in March, surpassing tered along the Southwest Several moderate Demo- other avenues. If they are
A backlog of people wait- the previous high of Biden's border. crats have joined Repub- unsuccessful, they could
ing outside the country to presidency of 200,658 set in U.S. authorities have ex- lican leaders to call for an face deportation.q

Supreme Court denies Penobscot

appeal over namesake river

case that goes to the "core Maine Attorney General then-Attorney General Wil-
identity of the Penobscot Aaron Frey and Democrat- liam Schneider issued an
Nation." "We see this as a ic Gov. Janet Mills had no opinion that the tribe's ter-
modern day territorial re- immediate comment on ritory was limited to islands.
moval by the state by try- Monday. The tribe said the lawsuit
ing to separate us from our The ruling came as the was necessary to protect
ancestral ties to our name- Maine Legislature was con- tribal authority over its an-
sake river," Francis told The sidering several measures cestral river and ensure
Associated Press. that relate to tribal sover- sustenance rights. But state
A federal judge previously eignty. The most far-reach- regulators argued that a
Native Americans marching in support of one of several tribal ruled that the reservation ing legislative proposal win by the tribe would cre-
sovereignty bills pass by the governor's mansion on April 11, includes islands of the river's would restore sovereignty ate "a two-tiered system"
2022, in Augusta, Maine. main stem, but not the wa- rights forfeited by tribes on the Penobscot that
Associated Press ters. There were appeals to under the Maine Indian would be a detriment to
By DAVID SHARP namesake river. a panel of the 1st U.S. Cir- Claims Settlement Act of the general public.
Associated Press It was a bitter defeat for the cuit Court of appeals and 1980. The House enacted Francis said it the Supreme
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — tribe that sued a decade then to the full appeals the bill Monday, but it was Court's action was proba-
The U.S. Supreme Court on ago, claiming the Penob- court. pending in the Senate. It bly the end of the road for
Monday declined an ap- scot River is part of its reser- On Monday, the nation's faces a possible veto by the appeal but he said the
peal by the Penobscot In- vation. top court without com- the governor. tribe wouldn't give up.
dian Nation in its fight with Penobscot Chief Kirk Fran- ment, declined to hear the The Penobscots, whose res- "We'll continue to see every
Maine over ownership and cis said it was a disappoint- tribe's appeals over river ervation is on an island in avenue to remedy this," he
regulation of the tribe's ing outcome in a legal regulation. the river, sued in 2012 after said.q