WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) joined U.S. Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to introduce the Public Health and Border Security Act to require all COVID-19 related national states of emergency to be lifted before Title 42 is officially terminated. The legislation was supported by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), John Thune (R-SD), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jon Tester (D-MT), Rob Portman (R-OH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
“If Title 42 is eliminated, the Border Patrol tell me they will lose control, and the drug cartels stand to benefit the most,” said Sen. Cornyn. “With border crossings already at historic highs and those communities completely overwhelmed, it is imperative that there is a realistic plan in place to address the inevitable migrant influx. We need to enforce our existing immigration laws and deter migrants from undertaking the dangerous journey to the United States, but this decision by Biden Administration shows no interest in doing so.”
Background:
This legislation prevents the Administration from ending the Title 42 emergency authority until at least 60 days after ending the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. After the end of the national emergency, the Department of Homeland Security would have thirty days to submit to Congress a plan to address the impacts of the post-Title 42 migrant influx. That plan must be made in coordination with local governments, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations on the front-lines of the migrant crisis.