top of page

As Title 42 Expires, the plight of Black Migrants Continues

Title 42 was a policy implemented by the Trump administration to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from migrants entering into the United States. Despite the criticism and legal challenges, the Biden administration continued the use of Title 42, citing concerns for public health. The policy has raised many issues, including human rights violations and the separation of families seeking safety and refuge. As the world continues to navigate the pandemic, today, May 11 marks the expiration of Title 42, a Trump-era policy that has had devastating impacts on migrants across the Americas and especially in the United States.





The implementation of Title 42 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Black migrants in the Americas and the US.


Under this public health law, over two million asylum seekers have been expelled to their countries of origin, regardless of the dangerous and unstable conditions they face. This policy has had devastating effects on Black migrants, who often flee poverty, violence, and persecution in their home countries. The US government's use of Title 42 has been criticized for violating international law obligations to protect refugees, as well as for perpetuating racial discrimination and xenophobia. As we continue to navigate the pandemic and its aftermath, it is crucial to examine and address the human rights consequences of policies like Title 42.


Throughout the history of the United States, Black migrants have faced a long and painful history of discrimination and racism, known as antiblackness. Black migrants often come to the United States out of economic desperation as a result of economic policies impose