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EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans warn Biden administration of “grave risk” if a Trump-era public health order that allows migrants to be promptly returned to their home countries is ended – which activists urged President Biden to do so.
“Simply put, you cannot separate the border crisis from the pandemic,” read the letter from 26 Republicans, led by Representative Jodey Arrington, R-Texas. “Repealing this order would hurt Americans and immigrants, while pushing our resources to unsustainable levels.”
TRUMP, AT CPAC, SHOULD HAMMER BIDEN ON IMMIGRATION, CHINA
In March 2020, the Trump administration implemented “Title 42” public health restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions allow for the rapid deportation of migrants at the border for public health reasons. Administration officials said the order allowed migrants to be returned to their country of last transit or origin – often within minutes and without the need for detention.
Lawmakers cite statistics that more than 200,000 migrants have been deported in the past four months alone, even as migrant facilities have remained mostly empty in the latter part of the Trump administration.
But the Biden administration has taken a number of steps to roll back the policies of the Trump era. More dramatically, he has sought to implement a 100-day break on evictions – although this was blocked by a lawsuit in Texas. He also took steps to end the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) – allowing entry of migrants who had been detained in Mexico under the program.
BIDEN’S 100-DAY EXPULSION MORATORIUM IS INDEFINIALLY PROHIBITED BY THE JUDGE
Republicans have sounded the alarm that this could trigger a new border crisis, reporting reports that full migrant facilities and border officials are being forced to release migrants to the United States – a policy known as the name “catch and release”, which was ended under the previous administration.
The Biden administration has so far been silent on Title 42 and has not indicated it will reverse the position, much to the anger of migrant groups and left-wing advocacy groups.
Republican lawmakers have pointed to the damage repealing an order could cause to border communities, healthcare workers and law enforcement at the border.
“The weakening or repeal of Title 42 will put our CBP officers at risk, add additional strains to the health care delivery system in border communities, and encourage more illegal immigrants to come to the United States at a when we must first put the health and safety of Americans first. Says the letter.
ICE OFFICERS WILL NEED TO GET PRE-APPROVAL BEFORE ARRESTING CERTAIN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS UNDER NEW RULES
Lawmakers urge Biden to “seriously consider the serious risk of allowing undocumented and untested people to enter our country.”
“With all the efforts of the Trump administration, and now your administration, to test, prevent and treat the citizens of our country and slow the spread of COVID-19, repealing Title 42 would be illogical and indefensible,” they said. declared.
Republicans have expressed deep concern over Biden’s immigration program and appear likely to oppose an immigration proposal brought forward last week that would grant millions of illegal immigrants access to citizenship.
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Meanwhile, Biden’s candidate for Justice Department head Merrick Garland said this week he had “not given thought” to whether illegal border crossings should remain a crime.
“Well, I didn’t think about that question. I just didn’t think about that question,” Garland said. “I think the president made it clear that we are a country with borders and with a concern for national security. I don’t know of any proposed decriminalization, but it is illegal to enter all the same. I don’t know everything. just not the answer to that question. I hadn’t thought of it. “
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