The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday it will terminate the health order that restricted immigration at U.S. land borders since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic.
Considering the current public health conditions, the CDC decided to lift the public health law known as Title 42 which expelled more than 1.7 million migrants.
The CDC said the order will be lifted on May 23 which would give the authorities enough time to prepare for the vaccinations to be provided to the migrants crossing the border.
The order was first imposed under the Trump administration in March 2020 to control the spread of the virus across the country’s land borders with Mexico and Canada.
The Biden administration later extended the order in August and January due to the increase in cases because of the variants.
Human rights groups have, however, criticized Title 42 as a deportation policy which takes away the right of people to apply for asylum.
Due to the dramatic reduction in Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations in the U.S. compared to the surge in January, the CDC said it is easing public health measures.
Picture Credits: Getty Images