Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik joined her colleagues in sending a letter expressing deep concern with the White House’s announcement that it will eliminate Title 42 on May 23, 2022. Along with the suspension of other policies to deter illegal border crossings, halting Title 42 will aggravate the ongoing border crisis and risk the health of Border Patrol agents, migrants, and local communities.
“Under Joe Biden’s failed leadership and open border policies, there have been over two million illegal crossings of our southern border. Now, it will only get worse as Joe Biden ends Title 42. Border security is national security, and we must secure our border instead of incentivizing illegal immigration,” Stefanik said.
Title 42 is currently the most effective tool at the disposal of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to deter migrants from attempting to cross the border illegally. With a set date for its expiration in place, human smugglers have ample time to prepare to transport migrants to the border upon the termination of Title 42.
In the letter, the lawmakers highlight that the Biden Administration is anticipating approximately 540,000 illegal border crossings per month, which is more than twice the highest number of encounters in a single month during President Biden’s term in office.
“Unfortunately, your Administration has not used the tools available to it to deter illegal immigration, including by reducing interior immigration enforcement, dismantling the Migrant Protections Protocols (MPP), and releasing hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants into the interior of the United States. As a result, Title 42 is the only means left to deter illegal immigration and keep our communities healthy and safe,” the lawmakers wrote.
