Title 42 refers to a section of the United States Code that grants the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wide-ranging powers to regulate the entry of people and goods into the United States during times of public health emergencies. This provision was invoked by the Trump administration in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its use has since been continued by the Biden administration.
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Under Title 42, the CDC is authorized to prohibit the entry of individuals or goods into the United States if they pose a threat of spreading communicable diseases. This includes the power to detain, medically screen, and release individuals seeking entry into the country.
One of the most contentious applications of Title 42 has been its use to expel migrants, including families and children, who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border seeking asylum. The Trump administration used Title 42 to bypass normal asylum procedures and rapidly deport individuals back to their countries of origin without allowing them to apply for asylum or have their claims heard.
The Biden administration has also employed Title 42 to expel migrants, citing concerns over the transmission of COVID-19. However, the use of this law to deny asylum seekers their right to apply for protection under U.S. law has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and immigration advocates.
Despite legal challenges against Title 42, with critics claiming that it violates U.S. and international asylum laws, as well as constitutional due process rights, courts have generally upheld the law, citing the broad public health authority granted to the CDC during public health emergencies.
Title 42 has been a controversial tool used by the U.S. government to regulate the entry of individuals and goods into the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its use to expel asylum seekers has been widely criticized, but it remains in effect as a powerful mechanism for the government to manage public health risks.

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