Najib was making calls to friends. He was in search of what he considered potentially life-saving advice.As the clock ticked down Thursday toward the end of America’s so-calledAt 11:59 Thursday evening, the new rules would apply.
“I am in contact with an Afghan family who just left the airport for the border,” he said, on the phone from Tijuana.Najib had travelled from Brazil three weeks ago, and reached the Mexican capital late Wednesday. He said he paid $420 for a flight from Mexico City to Tijuana, a price he said was doubled since the announcement of expiration of the law as hundreds of immigrants rushed to buy tickets.
Under Title 42, U.S. officials turned away migrants more than 2.8 million times. Families and children traveling alone were exempt, and could seek asylum, The Associated Press reports. But migrants were able to try to get in again and again. “The Biden asylum ban essentially says you’re not eligible for asylum if you’ve transited through another country,” said Jill Marie Bussey, director for public policy at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.For Afghans and others whose odyssey has brought them to the doorstep of America, the rule change has the potential to slam the door in their face.