Today, April 8th, 2022, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02)led 62 House Republicans in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas seeking answers on the Administration’s plans to secure the border and support Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after the Title 42 policy is lifted. The letter comes after the announcement that the Biden Administration plans to stop enforcing Title 42 on May 23rd, 2022.
“The Administration has shown they have no interest in or are incapable of managing the crisis at our border with Mexico. According to recent data, CBP is encountering more than 5,500 migrants per day. During his tenure, President Obama’s Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said 1,000 apprehensions a day was considered ‘a bad day’,” said Miller-Meeks. “We have seen no plan from this Administration to properly handle the current border crisis, let alone the surge that will likely come once Title 42 is lifted. This is the wrong time to stop enforcing Title 42 and I strongly urge the Administration to reconsider this poorly conceived plan.”
Background:
In their letter, the lawmakers asked the Administration to answer five specific questions regarding a plan for dealing with the potential surge in illegal crossings:
- How does DHS plan to screen migrants for COVID-19 and other communicable diseases? What is the departments testing capacity?
- Will a quarantine period be required for unvaccinated migrants? If so, where will they be quarantined?
- Will vaccinations be administered to all migrants for COVID-19? If so, will these vaccinations be voluntary?
- What will the department do with migrants who test positive for COVID-19? How will DHS officers and agents be protected from COVID-19 positive migrants?
- Under what circumstances will you request resources and additional personnel from other U.S. government agencies?
In March of 2020, the Trump Administration implemented Title 42 in order to curb the number of crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Title 42 mitigated the spread of COVID-19, specifically at border facilities and processing centers where overcrowding could have fueled the transmission of the virus. The order does not apply to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and their spouses and children, U.S. military personnel, or those who arrive at a port of entry with valid travel documents.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, more than 1.7 million migrants who attempted to enter the U.S. illegally have been expelled under Title 42 since March 2020.
Cosigners (62): Kelly Armstrong (ND-00), Brian Babin (TX-36), Jim Baird (IN-04), Jim Banks (IN-03), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Mo Brooke (AL-05), Ken Buck (CO-04), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Madison Cawthorn (NC-11), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Rodney Davis (IL-13), Neal Dunn (FL-02), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Ron Estes (KS-04), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Carlos Gimenez (FL-26), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Michael Guest (MS-03), Kevin Hern (OK-01), Ashley Hinson (IA-01), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Chris Jacobs (NY-27), Bill Johnson (OH-06), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Jake LaTurner (KS-02), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Brian Mast (FL-18), Lisa McClain (MI-10), David McKinley (WV-01), Peter Meijer (MI-03), Dan Meuser (PA-09), John Moolenaar (MI-04), Alex Mooney (WV-02), Blake Moore (UT-01), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Burgess Owens (UT-04), Steve Palazzo (MS-04), Bill Posey (FL-08), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), John Rutherford (FL-04), Maria Salazar (FL-27), David Schweikert (AZ-06), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Victoria Spartz (IN-05), Michelle Steel (CA-48), Fred Upton (MI-06), David Valadao (CA-21), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Brad Wenstrup (OH-02), Joe Wilson (SC-02), and Rob Wittman (VA-01).
Original source can be found here
