U.S. border city calm as Title 42 lifts and asylum restrictions take effect

Migrants stand along the border highway, as the U.S. prepares to lift COVID-19 era Title 42 restrictions that have blocked migrants at the border from seeking asylum since 2020, in El Paso, Texas, U.S., May 11, 2023. REUTERS/Julio-Cesar Chavez

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico/EL PASO, Texas (Reuters) -The United States on Friday ended a COVID-19 border restriction that had blocked many migrants at the border with Mexico, immediately replacing the order known as Title 42 with a sweeping new asylum regulation meant to deter illegal crossings.

Several last-minute court actions added confusion to how President Joe Biden's reworked border policies will play out, with advocates filing a legal challenge to the new asylum restrictions as they took effect.