WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in introducing legislation to extend the Title 42 authority at the nation’s southern border until February 2025. At present, the Title 42 Public Health Order allows Homeland Security and immigration officials to expeditiously return illegal immigrants to their home country in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This legislation comes in response to the Biden administration deciding to rescind the Title 42 authority, which will lead to an additional surge of illegal immigrants coming across the southern border.
“I’ve been to the southern border and seen firsthand the surge of illegal immigrants crossing our nation’s southern border,” said Hoeven. “President Biden’s decision to revoke Title 42 will make the situation drastically worse. The Biden administration needs to enforce the law and secure our southern border, and this legislation is about empowering our immigration officials to do just that.”
“Rescinding Title 42 is a dumb idea and an even dumber political strategy. America is not with President Biden on this move. We are seeing the biggest crisis at the border in U.S. history, and lifting Title 42 will only make things worse. This irresponsible move by the Biden Administration will escalate the dangerous situation at the southern border, where immigration facilities are already overwhelmed and illegal immigrants are coming into the United States by the thousands. It is imperative to our national security that Title 42 remains in place,” said Senator Cramer.
In addition to Hoeven, Cramer, and Rubio, the bill was introduced by Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).