With the conclusion of the Ninth Summit of the Americas, the Biden administration issued the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. This declaration includes commitments to protect and respect the safety, dignity, human rights, and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons, regardless of migratory status.

These commitments center around four fundamental areas: “(1) stability and assistance for communities; (2) expansion of legal pathways; (3) humane migration management; and (4) coordinated emergency response.” If implemented, the Declaration offers actionable measures for regional and protection-based approaches to migration.

While USCRI commends the commitment of the administration to uphold the rights of migrants, we believe that the United States cannot honor these commitments while the use of Title 42 remains in effect. In May, a federal district judge ruled to continue the use of Title 42, an obscure provision of public health law that allows border officials to rapidly expel asylum seekers to Mexico or their home countries without due process.

“The use of immigration-deterrence policies is not the way to welcome asylum seekers with dignity,” USCRI CEO and President Eskinder Negash said. “The administration must use this opportunity to lead by example and do everything within its power to end the use of Title 42 and restore legal access to asylum.”

While the commitment from the U.S. following the Summit of the Americas was strong, maintaining the use of Title 42 makes it fall flat. As such, we urge the administration to start the rulemaking process to end the use of Title 42 as soon as possible.

USCRI, founded in 1911, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization committed to working on behalf of refugees and immigrants and their transition to a dignified life.

For press inquiries, please contact: aplazasrocha@uscrimail.org.