Why people are freaking out about Title 42 ending

The pandemic-era policy used to block migrants at the southern border is coming to an end this week. Lifting so-called Title 42 will mean a major policy shift, one expected to draw an increase of asylum seekers to the U.S. — and scrutiny over how the Biden administration will handle that influx.

Officials have had more than two years to prepare for this moment. But President Joe Biden’s recent decision to send 1,500 active-duty troops to the border struck some immigration policy experts as a sign the administration isn’t ready for the transition. Criticism has poured in from both Republicans and Democrats, yet combating the expected crisis can’t truly be resolved without immigration reform — unlikely in a deadlocked Congress that has failed for decades to address outdated laws.

While the Biden administration braces for what’s to come when the border policy expires on May 11, here’s our effort to bring you up to speed on the latest: