A US judge has blocked plans by Joe Biden’s administration to lift a policy allowing migrants to be swiftly expelled at the Mexico border over concerns about spreading Covid.

District Judge Robert Summerhays granted an injunction to Republican state attorneys challenging the halting of checks known as Title 42.

The policy, introduced by Donald Trump in 2020, was due to expire on 23 May.

The US Department of Justice said it would appeal.

Aimed at stopping virus spread in migrant holding facilities, Title 42 was twice extended by President Biden.

More than 1.7 million people have been expelled under the policy.

On Friday, Judge Summerhays in Lafayette, Louisiana, ruled that the policy would stay in place while a lawsuit by more than 20 states played out in court.