Southern California Braces for Effects as Title 42 Border Policy Ends

Southern California communities are preparing to be "deeply impacted" now that Title 42, a coronavirus-era policy that let the United States quickly turn away asylum seekers at the southern border, has ended. The rule expired late Thursday night.

Because California sits close to Mexico and is already home to a large immigrant population, experts say more asylum seekers may settle in the region, either with relatives or in local shelters. Alvaro Huerta, director of litigation and advocacy for the Los Angeles Immigrant Defenders Law Center, said the state has long received many immigrants. But he said shelters and nonprofits that assist people crossing the border are now at or beyond capacity and need more infrastructure and resources.

The Biden administration has put other measures in place to discourage illegal entry. The U.S. has also said it will accept up to 30,000 people a month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela under certain conditions, such as having a sponsor, along with up to 100,000 people from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras who already have family in the country. Lauren Heidbrink, an immigration expert and professor at Cal State Long Beach, noted that many people trying to cross are relatives of those already living in California, including children and parents.

In Riverside County, which has six temporary sheltering sites, officials expect "significant stress" on resources. According to City News Service, facilities there are already at 95% capacity. County executive officer Jeff Van Wagenen said it remains to be seen what the local impact will be, but that an increase in people released by California Border Patrol is likely.

Much remains uncertain. Huerta said much of the information is "still very much up in the air" and that it is unclear exactly how the new arrangements will work. Heidbrink worries that added restrictions could lead many asylum seekers to be turned away and unable to reunite with family. Huerta wants more social workers, asylum officers and judges sent to the border.

About 200 Marines from Camp Pendleton are being sent to help agents at the border. The first service members were due to arrive Friday, with the rest arriving between May 27 and June 5. Since 2019, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom's office, California has invested around $1 billion to support some 350,000 asylum seekers, providing medical screenings, vaccinations, temporary shelter, food and clothing. The state also backs migrant shelters, travel staging sites and temporary sheltering facilities in San Diego, Imperial and Riverside counties.

Lawmakers from the region voiced concern about resources. Rep. Lou Correa, an Anaheim Democrat, said California has strong border infrastructure, yet agents say they still need more personnel and other resources. Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, called for more funding for effective border security and upgraded processing systems. Republican Rep. Young Kim supported extending Title 42, arguing that ending such programs without replacements to prevent overcrowding at border patrol facilities would worsen the border crisis.

Some experts believe any immediate surge will be short-lived. Heidbrink expects an uptick because more than 1 million people were turned away under Title 42, but said migration should eventually return to seasonal rises and dips. Marisa Cianciarulo, a Chapman University law professor and immigration attorney, said asylum claims have continued to be processed but with significant delays.

Correa, the top Democrat on the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, said Washington must fund more asylum processing, expand programs letting refugees live and work in the U.S. temporarily, add border personnel and "get away from the politics." He said voting on one or two bills will not fix the problem, adding that the solution "is going to be long-term."