Judge Blocks Biden Administration from Expelling Migrant Families Under Public Health Order

Yesterday, a Federal Judge blocked the Biden Administration from expelling migrant families with children apprehended at the U.S. Mexico border under a public health order. Judge Emmet Sullivan of the District of Columbia District Court acknowledged that the ruling will force the government to make difficult decisions but said that there are enough measures that can be taken to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. The order won’t take effect for 14 days.

The Biden Administration previously relied on the public health order linked to the Coronavirus pandemic to turn away adults and families apprehended at the southern border, with unaccompanied children remaining exempt from the policy. Last month, more than 70,000 migrant families were allowed into the U.S. and 16,000 were expelled according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Since being implemented by the Trump Administration, more than 958,000 migrants have been expelled at the border.