Trump Revives Title 42 Amid Drop in Illegal Border Crossings

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is attributing a significant reduction in illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border to his administration’s ongoing crackdown on immigration. The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to reinstate the controversial Title 42 public health policy, which allows border officials to expeditiously turn away migrants on health grounds amid concerns over disease transmission.

According to internal documents, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to issue an order that classifies illegal migrants as public health risks, potentially reinstating measures first enacted in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The timeline for implementing this directive remains unclear as the CDC collaborates with the Department of Homeland Security.

The Title 42 policy was kept in place by President Joe Biden upon taking office but was ultimately rescinded in May 2023 when the public health emergency linked to the pandemic was declared over. With the recent reports of Title 42’s revival, Trump is reinforcing his commitment to border security, a core tenet of his campaign strategy.

Border enforcement has intensified, especially as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faces escalating pressure from the White House to increase deportations and enforce immigration laws more stringently. This renewed urgency is positioned alongside a noticeable decrease in migrant encounters at the southwest border since Trump’s return to the political forefront.

Recent data shows that only 396 illegal migrants were encountered on February 5 across critical areas including El Paso, Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Del Rio, and Big Bend. This stark contrast highlights the situation during Biden’s administration, where Del Rio alone reported thousands of daily crossings, peaking in September 2021 with over 20,000 encounters during just a few days.

As developments unfold regarding the possible reimplementation of Title 42, the effect on Trump’s broader immigration policies remains uncertain. Observers are closely monitoring the interaction between health-based measures and the ongoing immigration control strategies aimed at maintaining order at the border.