In keeping with the guiding premise of its immigration policy—more legal channels of entry and greater challenges for unauthorized immigration—Joe Biden’s administration is tightening the screws once more. This time, it does so under pressure from the so-called Title 42, which permits the quick return of immigrants, as well as the legal expiration of the pandemic health emergency in the United States on May 11.
The United States is concerned about a rise in the number of migrants crossing the border with Mexico and on Thursday announced additional control measures on the one hand, and an expansion of authorised migration routes to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras in Central America, as well as Colombia in South America. Washington has agreed to set up immigration centres in the area, where 5,000–6,000 applications will be processed and assessed each month. This is one of the new developments.