San Antonio – It is the beginning of a new year and the fate of Title 42 is still unknown.
Pandemic policy gives the United States the right to quickly remove immigrants and asylum seekers from the border because of Covid-19.
The Biden administration wants to repeal Title 42, but several states are fighting to keep it.
“At the end of the day, it’s a question of when, not if, because it’s a temporary rule, and everybody agrees on that,” said Lance Cartwright, DMCA managing partner.
With 20 years of experience in immigration law, Cartwright says repeal of Title 42 is inevitable.
“This is a presidential announcement. It is a question of how it is introduced and how it is removed, which causes all the legal wrangling.
He cited a battle between the courts, the federal government and 19 states — including Texas — to preserve Title 42.
“The longer it sits, the more damage it does,” Cartwright said.
For border communities, this causes confusion and uncertainty.
Sandra Grace Martinez moved to El Paso from San Antonio about a month ago. He is helping migrants who are sleeping on the streets with little or no resources.
“It just becomes a human thing and making sure their basic needs are met,” Martinez said.
Martinez said he has seen how Title 42 has been weaponized for political reasons and real lives have been affected.
“I feel betrayed by my government,” he said.
In February, the US Supreme Court will hear arguments to preserve Title 42. For now, this policy remains.
Cartwright believes that a complete overhaul of the system is needed to achieve a solution to immigration.
Until we actually get the political will and people come together and elect the people that they are, we have a consensus, we’re going to continue to have some of these kinds of fights over things that shouldn’t be discussed. Cartwright said.
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