Judge blocks Biden’s plan to lift Covid restrictions on immigrants at US-Mexico border

authorities of U.S cannot for the moment proceed with plans to lift pandemic restrictions that allow US agents to cross the border with Mexico reject immigrants, a Louisiana judge ruled on Friday.

The injunction issued by Judge Robert Summerhays means the restrictions, which were supposed to end on May 23, will remain in effect at the border as litigation continues, barring any appeals from the Department of Justice. Justice from the USA.

The pandemic restrictions, known as Title 42, were implemented in March 2020 during the administration of the former Republican president. Donald Trumpwho had a hard-line position on immigration.

Health officials at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said at the time that it was necessary to contain the spread of the virus. coronavirus.

Since then, more than a million immigrants detained at the border have been quickly sent to Mexico or other countries under the rule, often within hours of being captured.

The president Joe Bidena Democrat who took office in January 2021, has kept Title 42 in place despite concerns from medical experts, the UN and senior members of his own party, who said the expulsions put vulnerable immigrants in danger and are not based on science.

Last month, the CDC said Title 42 was no longer needed to fight Covid-19 due to the increased availability of vaccines and other tools. The health agency gave border authorities until May 23 to prepare for its demise.

But a coalition of two dozen states led by Arizona, Louisiana and Missouri, all with Republican prosecutors, has filed a lawsuit to prevent the Biden administration from ending the policy.

Trump-appointed Judge Summerhays said a national injunction was necessary given the ability of migrants crossing the border to move freely from state to state.