Bad immigration policy under Donald Trump remains bad policy under Joe Biden.

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A family entered Yuma, Ariz., To turn themselves in to U.S. Border Patrol agents on May 13, 2021.

The Biden administration this month extended a policy to Trump’s border because of the ongoing pandemic. The administration said it will retain Title 42, a health law that prohibits entry into the U.S. when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes there is a risk of bringing the disease into the country. This allows the authorities to quickly expel the migrants, lest they spread the coronavirus. In a statement, the CDC said Title 42 will remain in effect until the Order is no longer required to protect public health.

Public health does not allow being anti-immigrant

This is an annoying move from an administration that claims it supports a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system. The use of Title 42 is rooted in politics, not public policy. Sadly, its continuation reflects a broader problem in the Biden White House. Seven months into his term, the president is still not prioritizing critical reforms to our immigration system.

Public Health: Sometimes we all struggle with COVID-19. Now we are against the unformed

The idea of ​​restricting border crossings to stop the spread of the coronavirus sounds good, as does the CDC’s endorsement of Title 42. But Title 42 is narrowly aimed at migrants only. Public health experts have questioned the usefulness of the laws, while federal courts have rejected its legal basis. Some of the CDC’s own physicians have argued that the application of the laws is not based on public health and safety. In fact, the only reason for Title 42’s title is because in 2020 Vice President Mike Pence repealed CDC experts and ordered the measure to be implemented. Ignore the fact that COVID-19 is all over the US already, and its persistence is caused by more not being developed by me among us, than by immigrants. What was bad policy under Trump remains bad policy under Biden.

Unfortunately, Title 42 is a bit of a bigger picture, as Biden has yet to make a sharper break from his predecessor’s destructive immigration policies. Immigrant detentions have recently risen to prominence, with the number of detainees nearly doubling since February. Thousands of young migrants still remain in poor conditions in temporary shelters. And the administration continued the rapid explosion of flights of migrants, denying asylum seekers the opportunity to make their claims before an immigration judge.

The story continues

Biden has certainly taken a positive step towards immigration. His administration restarted a program to help Central American minors, and it reinstated the Remain in Mexico policy, which forced asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while they awaited the process of their case. . (On Friday, a federal judge ordered the policy reinstated, but the Biden administration has time to appeal.) Instead of raiding the workplace, internal immigration enforcement is now focused on people threatens national security and public safety. However, just doing better than Trump on immigration is not enough.

Most Latinos recognize that the president is an ally in our communities. A May CNN analysis of Gallup polling during Biden’s presidency found that his approval rating with Latinos was 72%, compared to his overall approval rating of 55%. Biden does not use outrageous language to describe people from other countries, and he has shown great leadership in dealing with the economy and coronavirus. That’s why his reluctance to be bigger and more courageous in immigration is so surprising.

True, perhaps the administration is concerned about showing softness to immigration. The White House’s 21-point plan on immigration, for example, records a commitment to border security and immigration enforcement. However, whatever Biden does with immigration, Republicans will accuse him of favoring open borders and amnesty. He can also keep his promises to his supporters, instead of trying to appease conservatives that his immigration movement will never return. Time is running out as well, because as we get closer to the midterms, it is more hesitant that weak Democrats will stand with the president on this issue.

Border Crisis: We identified the injured, dehydrated, depleted migrants at the border. Listen to their pleas.

In this time of utter isolation, some Latinos may feel uncomfortable criticizing a president we see as a friend. But pressure is needed on Biden about immigration now. Consider that DACA, of which both Obama and Biden are proud, was enacted only after the relentless activism and protest of young immigrants who wanted to live and work without fear of deportation.

Extending Title 42 was a mistake. The Biden administration can and should do better and will soon, before the end of the presidential grace period on immigration.

Raul A. Reyes is an attorney and member of the USA TODAY Board of Contributors. Follow him on Twitter: @RaulAReyes

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This article originally appeared in USA NOW: Biden promises immigration reform. We are still waiting.

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