Mexico City, Mexico — A soon to expire U.S. law regarding migrants has Mexican officials visiting Washington. On Tuesday, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard held a meeting with U.S. officials regarding the end of the use of Title 42.
The title, which has been in use since 1944 but rarely used, is set to come to an end at the request of the Biden administration. The Title allows federal health authorities to refuse migrant entry into the United States if they feel doing so could cause the spread of contagious diseases.
During the last two years, Title 42 was exercised due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, now that the use of the Title coming to an end, both Mexican and U.S. officials are discussing new measures regarding migrants and their borders.
During a Tuesday press conference in Washington, Ebrard stated that Mexico will not become a country of free transit, adding that migrants can apply for temporary work permits, asylum or refugee status.
He said allowing Mexico to become a country of free transit would not be complying with the law. Mexico is anticipating an increase in migrant flow once Title 42 ceases to be a legal section of the U.S. Code.
“They assume that when this Title disappears we will have greater pressure. They think that some actions can be taken, but we still do not have them in detail nor have we agreed on them,” Ebrard explained.
After the meeting between Ebrard and the U.S. Secretary of Internal Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, Ebrard said they were still without a migrant containment strategy. Title 42 is set to expire on May 23.