Top CDC official said migrant expulsion was not needed to contain COVID
"The bulk of the evidence at that time did not support this policy proposal," Anne Schuchat, a former CDC deputy director, told congressional investigators.
Camilo Montoya-Galvez is an award-winning reporter covering immigration for CBS News, where his reporting is featured across multiple CBS News and Stations platforms, including the CBS News 24/7, CBSNews.com and CBS News Radio.
Montoya-Galvez is also part of CBS News' team of 2024 political campaign reporters.
Montoya-Galvez joined CBS News in 2018 and has reported hundreds of articles on immigration, the U.S. immigration policy, the contentious debate on the topic, and connected issues. He's landed exclusive stories and developed in-depth reports on the impact of significant policy changes. He's also extensively reported on the people affected by a complex immigration system.
Before joining CBS News, Montoya-Galvez spent over two years as an investigative unit producer and assignment desk editor at Telemundo's television station in New York City. His work at Telemundo earned three New York Emmy Awards.
Earlier, he was the founding editor of After the Final Whistle, an online bilingual publication featuring stories that highlight soccer's role in contemporary society.
He was born in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, and raised in northern New Jersey.
He earned a bachelor's degree in media and journalism studies/Spanish from Rutgers University.
"The bulk of the evidence at that time did not support this policy proposal," Anne Schuchat, a former CDC deputy director, told congressional investigators.
Afghans brought to the U.S. following the Taliban takeover of their country will qualify for fee exemptions when applying for work permits and permanent residency.
Citing strained resources, U.S. Border Patrol agents did not process tens of thousands of migrants for deportation.
The head of Customs and Border Protection rescinded several guidelines that upheld the so-called "metering" practice.
Infighting between those who support tougher enforcement and those who favor expanding access to the asylum system has hindered the administration's border policy, officials told CBS News.
In August, a federal judge in Texas ordered the government to revive a Trump-era border policy.
Under the new program, groups of at least five individuals could apply to become "sponsor circles" that would be responsible for resettling Afghan evacuees.
Roughly 61% of the migrants encountered were quickly expelled to Mexico or their homeland under a pandemic-era policy known as Title 42.
Approximately 55,000 Afghan evacuees remain at U.S. military sites waiting to be resettled in communities across America.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also said in August the administration would conduct a "hot wash" review of the U.S. withdrawal.
Because of a court order, the Biden administration is required to reinstate the Trump-era policy of requiring asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for their hearings.
As of the end of last month, only 3,217 migrants processed under the Title 42 public health law have been referred for interviews with U.S. asylum officers.
The Biden administration said law enforcement efforts should focus on holding exploitative and unscrupulous employers accountable.
For the first time since March 2020, the U.S. will allow vaccinated travelers to enter the country by land for non-essential activities, like tourism and family visits.
In the next few weeks, more than 50,000 Afghan evacuees are set to leave U.S. military sites to resettle in communities across America.