- All-round Ashwin powers India to big Test win over Bangladesh
- NZ chase 275 to win first Sri Lanka Test after Patel bags six
- Ashwin bags six wickets as India hammer Bangladesh in first Test
- Nascent French government under pressure on multiple fronts
- Angry French cognac makers see red over Chinese tariffs threat
- Protect the prosciutto: Italy battles swine fever
- UN holds 'Summit of the Future' to tackle global crises
- Marxist leader set to become Sri Lanka's next president
- From blades to pull-up bars: UK charity tackles knife crime
- Swiss vote on pensions and environment protections
- No pain, no gain: Chinese pro wrestlers fight for recognition
- UAE leader seeks to deepen 'strategic' ties in US visit during Mideast crisis
- Hezbollah takes heavy hits but still fighting Israel
- Floods, landslides hit central Japan months after major quake
- All Blacks coach Robertson demands better finishing
- Argentina edge South Africa to keep title hopes alive
- Biden says China 'testing us,' in hot mic remarks to Quad allies
- Dubois destroys Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Guardiola says critics want Man City wiped 'from face of the Earth'
- Biden says 'Quad' is 'here to stay' despite challenges
- Dubois knocks out Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Vinicius helps 'faster' Madrid overturn stubborn Espanyol
- Zelensky to press US on long-range missile strikes inside Russia
- PSG drop first points in draw at Reims
- Vinicius, Mbappe on target as Madrid crush plucky Espanyol
- Jeeno leads Ko by two at LPGA Queen City Championship
- Bottega Veneta goes for 'E.T.' chic as Madonna pops into D&G
- Messi, Miami frustrated by New York late leveler
- Musk's X platform takes first step toward lifting Brazil ban
- 'Business as usual' for Australia match-winner Carey amid boos
- Israeli jets pound Lebanon after deadly Beirut strike
- Ten Hag bemoans Man Utd's lack of killer instinct in Palace stalemate
- France's Macron appoints new government in shift to right
- Cheika proud of Leicester grit after winning start as boss
- Profligate Man Utd pay price in 0-0 draw at Palace
- Kane, Olise run riot as Bayern thump Bremen
- Diaz fires Liverpool top of Premier League, Man Utd held at Palace
- LIV champion Rahm out of LIV Team semis with severe flu
- Slot surprised by tearful Nunez's moment of magic
- Title rivals Norris, Verstappen on 'cool' front row for Singapore GP
- Biden talks China with 'Quad' leaders in hometown summit
- Juve and Napoli play out goalless draw in early Serie A title tussle
- Alcaraz fears tennis tour grind will 'kill us'
- Carey sparks recovery as Australia thrash England in 2nd ODI
- Leclerc, Sainz lament 'disappointing' Saturday in Singapore
- Bottega Veneta holds investors' aces as Madonna pops into D&G
- Beirut digs for victims at building flattened in Israeli strike
- Verstappen stages protest over 'ridiculous' swearing punishment
- Bayern boss Kompany lauds 'special talent' Olise
- Diaz fires Liverpool top of Premier League, Spurs bounce back
US says ready for migrant surge after Covid rules lifted
The US government is prepared to handle a potential gush of migrants from next month when Covid-19 rules will no longer be used to push nearly all undocumented border-crossers back into Mexico, officials said Tuesday.
President Joe Biden's administration will implement a "comprehensive strategy" to deal with a surge in asylum seekers and refugees seeking to enter the country after the May 23 end to Title 42, the public health order used to bar immigrants wholesale since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the officials said.
Instead, migrants will be allowed to apply for humanitarian entry under Title 8 authority, a shift which immigration critics say will see border authorities overwhelmed and perhaps hundreds of thousands of migrants allowed to stay while their applications are considered.
Meanwhile, the officials said, those without legitimate claims -- and especially migrants who repeatedly cross the border illegally -- will be subject to legal charges.
"When Title 42 is lifted, normal operations at the border under Title 8 processing will be restored," a senior administration official told reporters on grounds of anonymity.
Following the change, "asylum and other legal migration pathways will remain available to those seeking protection, and those who don't qualify will be promptly removed," the official said.
In a conference call with reporters, officials acknowledged that Title 42, first implemented by the previous administration of Donald Trump and criticized by immigration advocates, could remain in place after a Louisiana court said it would issue a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit by opposition Republicans.
The Biden administration would abide by that order when it comes, another senior official said.
But "it really makes no sense to us," the official said, because keeping Title 42 would prevent the government from using powers of expedited removal under Title 8.
That "is going to prevent us from adequately preparing for the aggressive application of immigration law when the public health order expires," the official said.
Immigration pressure has surged over the past two years, with border officials pushing back each month as 220,000 people seeking to cross the border from Mexico.
Most of them are from Central and South America, but many come from as far as South Asia and, most recently, Ukraine.
The officials said they were boosting coordination with Central American countries where most of the migrants transit to slow the northward flow and return migrants to their home countries, and broadening efforts to crack down on migrant smuggling groups.
They are also boosting capacity to process refugee requests to stay.
But they acknowledged that large migrant camps just into Mexico could unleash a surge of border crossing if and when Title 42 is removed.
"We are definitely aware of the individuals who are currently in Mexico and are actively planning in order to respond, post-Title 42," the second official said.
C.Kovalenko--BTB