EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans are warning the Biden government of a “serious risk” if a Trump-era public health order that allows migrants to be quickly returned to their home countries is closed – something activists asked President Biden to do .
“Simply put, you cannot separate the border crisis from the pandemic,” says the letter from 26 Republicans, led by Representative Jodey Arrington, R-Texas. “Revoking that order would harm both Americans and immigrants, while raising our resources to unsustainable levels.”
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In March 2020, the Trump administration implemented “Title 42” public health restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions allow for the rapid expulsion of migrants to the border for public health reasons. Government officials said the order allows migrants to be returned to their countries of last transit or origin – usually in minutes and without the need for detention.
Lawmakers cite statistics that more than 200,000 migrants have been expelled in the past four months alone, even when the migrant facilities remained largely empty in the latter part of the Trump administration.
But the Biden government has taken a series of measures to reverse the policies of the Trump era. More dramatically, it sought to implement a 100-day break in deportations – although this was blocked by a lawsuit in Texas. It also took steps to end the Migrants Protection Protocols (MPP) – allowing migrants who were kept in Mexico under the program to enter.
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Republicans have warned that this could trigger a new border crisis, pointing to reports of complete facilities for migrants and border agents being forced to release migrants to the US – a policy known as “catch and release”, which was ended under the previous administration.
The Biden administration has so far remained silent on Title 42 and has not indicated that it would reverse the stance, much to the irritation of migrant groups and left-wing defense groups.
Republican lawmakers pointed to the damage that revoking an order could do to border communities, health professionals and police officials at the border.
“Weakening or revoking Title 42 will put our CBP officers at risk, add additional tensions to the health care system in border communities and encourage more illegal immigrants to come to the US at a time when we must prioritize health and health. Americans’ safety first, “says the letter.
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Lawmakers call on Biden “to seriously consider the serious risk of allowing undocumented and untested individuals to enter our country.”
“With all the efforts that the Trump administration, and now your government, has made to test, prevent and treat the citizens of our nation and to delay the spread of COVID-19, repealing Title 42 would be illogical and indefensible,” they said. .
Republicans have expressed intense concern about Biden’s immigration agenda and appear to be opposing an immigration proposal presented last week that would guarantee millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.
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Meanwhile, Biden’s nominee to lead the Justice Department, Merrick Garland, said this week that he “had not thought” whether illegal border crossings should remain a crime.
“Well, I didn’t think about it. I just didn’t think about it,” said Garland. “I think the president made it clear that we are a country with borders and a concern for national security. I don’t know of a decriminalization proposal, but we still make entry illegal. I just don’t know the answer to that question. I hadn’t thought about it. “