Chief Justice John Roberts bought the Border Patrol a little time on Monday when he extended Title 42, the pandemic-era policy that allowed for the swift removal of illegal immigrants on public health grounds. But with the border crisis raging and a tsunami of illegals waiting in Mexico for Title 42 to be lifted, CNN correspondent David Culver appeared on the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of CNN This Morning to whine about how the extension was causing “confusion” for those looking to cross illegally into the U.S.
Huffing about “all this confusion” on Tuesday, Culver recounted how he spoke to a man from Venezuela who was banking on Title 42 being lifted on Wednesday:
So, that migrant we had spoken with from Venezuela, he – like many others – had that deadline of the 21st of December thinking that that's when Title 42 was going to be lifted. Don [Lemon], as you pointed out, what came yesterday from the chief justice changed all of that, it is still in effect and now you've got added law enforcement behind me here at the border.
So, a lot of these folks working on that 21st timeline, they're thinking perhaps they still try to cross. Maybe they hold off for a bit. They're waiting if what could be a new date and deadline for them to fixate on to then determine their next steps here.
“But you have this state of confusion and really limbo that a lot of these folks are finding themselves in,” Culver lamented.
He even complained about the Texas National Guard blocking one of the popular illegal crossing points. “And now they're looking across and seeing the space they used to easily walk across onto. I mean, it was so simple for them. They'd step over stones and they’d be there,” he explained. “Well now, it looks to be completely shuttered and that seems to be as we pointed out, Don, a mobilization from Texas.”
During an update on Wednesday — the day Title 42 was supposed to expire — co-anchor Don Lemon appeared eager for the policy to expire. “What happens if it isn't lifted in the next week or so? What happens?” he asked Culver.
Culver explained sympathetically that the illegals “all thought it was going to be today,” adding, “a lot of these migrants have traveled for several months just to this point thinking the 21st” was going to be the day Title 42 would be lifted. He also noted that some of the illegals he talked to planned to cross even if the policy was not lifted, further overwhelming the asylum-seeking system.
“But you’re right, there’s still this uncertainty and confusion that a lot of them are feeling not knowing if they'll actually be able to get through with Title 42 still in effect,” he concluded.
So, while many are fearing the pressure and pain the lifting of Title 42 will bring, CNN is eagerly awaiting it.
CNN’s eagerness to see the immigration system overwhelmed was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Liberty Mutual and Lincoln. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CNN This Morning
December 20, 2022
8:05:38 a.m. Eastern(…)
DAVID CULVER: And that is a huge part of this is all this confusion.
So, that migrant we had spoken with from Venezuela, he – like many others – had that deadline of the 21st of December thinking that that's when Title 42 was going to be lifted. Don, as you pointed out, what came yesterday from the chief justice changed all of that, it is still in effect and now you've got added law enforcement behind me here at the border.
So, a lot of these folks working on that 21st timeline, they're thinking perhaps they still try to cross. Maybe they hold off for a bit. They're waiting if what could be a new date and deadline for them to fixate on to then determine their next steps here.
But you have this state of confusion and really Limbo that a lot of these folks are finding themselves in. And now they're looking across and seeing the space they used to easily walk across onto. I mean, it was so simple for them. They'd step over stones and they’d be there. Some of them going back and forth to help others. Well now, it looks to be completely shuttered and that seems to be as we pointed out, Don, a mobilization from Texas.
(…)
December 21, 2022
8:21:53 a.m. EasternDON LEMON: Just one quick question for you: because they're playing this all by ear, right, because this happened suddenly.
CULVER: Right.
LEMON: What happens if it isn't lifted in the next week or so? What happens?
CULVER: And that's been the big focus. They all thought it was going to be today. A lot of these migrants have traveled for several months just to this point thinking the 21st, especially those from Venezuela, this idea in mind that it would be lifted.
So, if it's not going to be lifted in the next few days; well, they're hoping that they’ll be processed and that they will be able to enter into the U.S. under their own claims of asylum. But you’re right, there’s still this uncertainty and confusion that a lot of them are feeling not knowing if they'll actually be able to get through with Title 42 still in effect.
(…)
