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A US judge has blocked plans by Joe Biden's administration to lift a policy allowing migrants to be swiftly expelled at the Mexico border over concerns about spreading Covid. District Judge Robert Summerhays granted an injunction to Republican state attorneys challenging the halting of checks known as Title 42. Title 42 allows US authorities to expel migrants seeking asylum without being given the chance to put forward their case. Children and some families are exempt. In April, the CDC said it was ready to rescind the policy given the current, more favourable public health outlook. However, Republicans - and some Democrats - warned that repealing Title 42 could lead to a surge in migrants at the US-Mexico border.

Karen Tumlin, the Founder and Director of Justice Action Center, says the Biden adminstration has already lodged an appeal but it could be months till the case is decided. She believes that the ban goes against the "fabric of the United States", whereby the law offers people a right to claim asylum - but shows that although Biden campaigned to roll back the anti-immigrant policies of Donald Trump, judges are going to stand in his way.

"It means seeking asylum will be prohibited at the US-Mexico border - but it's a legal and moral obligation to give a fair day in court to all people."

"Trump was ruthlessly effective at confirming judges at all levels."

Photo: Asylum seekers embrace, next to the USA border wall, Arizona Credit: Getty Images

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