Republican senators push Biden to stop termination of Title 42 to avoid border deluge

May 4, 2023

President Joe Biden doesn't seem to care that authorities at the U.S. southern border are about to be completely overwhelmed by a surge that could be like nothing the country has ever seen before.

Republican Senators led by Lindsey Graham (SC) are urging Biden strongly to reverse the termination of Title 42, set to end on May 11, in anticipation of thousands of migrants a day descending on the border.

"We write today to implore you to reverse your decision to end the Title 42 public health order, set to expire on May 11. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s own estimates, border surges in response to the termination of the Title 42 order could reach 13,000 encounters with illegal immigrants a day," the letter said.

"This is untenable and will exacerbate what is already a national security and humanitarian disaster on our southern border," they said.

Around 46% of all current migrants encountered at the border are expelled using Title 42, a COVID-era health rule that allows immediate expulsion if the migrant is deemed a health risk.

The rule doesn't really apply anymore since COVID has been deemed not a major risk, but it has been the only thing keeping migrant numbers down even where they are now, which is still at record high levels.