As the nation enters a third year under the threat of COVID-19, Arizona medical examiners say they are struggling to keep up with rising caseloads driven largely by rising deaths from the virus at a time when there is a shortage in forensic pathologists.
The law, known as Title 42, has been used to turn away more than 1.8 million migrants since it was invoked in March 2020.
The Arizona unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% in February, well below pre-pandemic levels and the lowest it has been since 2007.
“We all know why we are here today: The horrible Title 42 policy … is blocking asylum,” said a grassroots coordinator at the United Church of Christ.
Arizona city officials are praising the American Rescue Plan a year after it passed for bringing much-needed funding to municipalities during the pandemic.
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But with 1.5 million migrants turned away under Title 42—more than 1 million since President Joe Biden took office—Democrats said it’s past time to end the practice altogether.
The number of Arizonans fearing eviction has grown sharply, with advocates and landlords both saying rental assistance has not reached renters fast enough.