15,000 Haitian migrants beneath a bridge: a tale of abusive title 42 policy implementation

• Author: Elazar Kosman
• Position: J.D. Candidate, 2022, Georgetown University Law Center
• Pages: 491-498

CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS

15,000 HAITIAN MIGRANTS BENEATH A BRIDGE:

A TALE OF ABUSIVE TITLE 42 POLICY

IMPLEMENTATION

ELAZAR KOSMAN*

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ......................................... 491

I. THE STORY OF HAITIAN MIGRANTS AND THE DEL RIO BRIDGE . . . . . . 492

II. THE RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM AND TITLE 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494

III. CRITIQUE ON USE OF TITLE 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496

IV. JUDICIAL RULING ON LEGALITY OF TITLE 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497

CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 498

INTRODUCTION

In September 2021, thousands of Haitian migrants attempting to cross the

U.S.-Mexico border gathered into an encampment under the Del Rio

International bridge.

1

The story gripped the nation as photos of Border Patrol

Agents callously rounding up Haitian migrants on horseback evoked

* Elazar Kosman, J.D. Candidate, 2022, Georgetown University Law Center. I would like to thank

Rabbi Yochanan Zweig for teaching me how to think creatively and genuinely. All errors are my own.

© 2021, Elazar Kosman.

1. See Michelle Hackman, Haitian Migrants Under Texas Bridge to Be Flown Back to Haiti, WALL

STREET J. (Sept. 18, 2021), https://perma.cc/6E5Y-XRFS.

491