Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has warned of a “complete collapse” on the border if the Biden administration refuses to use Section 42 powers to deny immigration claims based on pandemic-related health conditions.
He criticized the idea of a sudden change in policy after the White House signaled that the policy could end as early as next month with periodic revisions.
“This move will take our border out of its current state of chaos and into a whole new level of complete, total collapse,” McConnell said on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
The administration is under pressure to stop using the powers, now that the number of coronavirus infections is declining and vaccines continue to be distributed.
“It would be extremely reckless for Democrats to simply resign and open the floodgates,” McConnell warned.
“This move will take our border out of its current state of chaos and into a whole new level of complete, utter collapse,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said after reports that the administration may end the use of Section 42 immigration authorities at the border.
Of the 1.7 million people deported to the border under Section 42, 1.2 million occurred under the Biden administration, according to the Washington Times. Politics began under the Trump administration.
The Kentucky Republican said the administration “relied heavily” on authority to prevent the “border crisis from getting worse.”
“You might think that the Biden administration would use the time given by this temporary measure to actually develop a strategy to secure the border. They dont have. There are no solutions in sight,” he said. He said the administration was now on the verge of “giving in to the pressure to wake up” and remove the authorities.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that the Biden administration will consider repealing Section 42 as early as next month, but acknowledges that once the pandemic-era provision ends, it could mean a large influx of illegal border crossings.
“There are deadlines, including, I think, coming in April, when it will continue to be reviewed, and these discussions have been among health experts, from the CDC and other medical experts in the administration,” the White House press secretary said during her daily briefing.
“And you always have to be prepared, because if they make that decision, there will be an implementation that will be led in part by the Department of Homeland Security and others that you have to plan for,” she added.
Every 60 days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviews Section 42, which was introduced by former President Donald Trump at the start of the pandemic, to allow immediate removal of asylum seekers in the midst of a public health emergency. .
This provision allowed for more frequent and immediate expulsions of migrants without prior consideration of their asylum applications.
Increased criticism of this policy from immigration advocates is due to the easing of restrictions associated with the pandemic, a decrease in morbidity and mortality, as well as the fact that Ukrainian refugees began to arrive at the southern border, fleeing Russian aggression.
When asked during a briefing on Monday if ending Section 42 would also mean preparing for an influx of migrants to the border, Psaki confirmed that “of course it will be part of that.”
She added: “If and when the CDC makes such a decision.”
Migrants march to protest Section 42 in Tijuana, Mexico on Monday, March 21, 2022, as the White House says it may consider ending pandemic-era policies as early as next month.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday: “There are deadlines, including, I think, coming in April, when it will be reviewed, and these discussions have been among health experts, from the CDC and other medical experts in the administration. ‘
Psaki also said the administration is “absolutely” weighing and preparing for an influx of migrants “if and when the CDC decides” to repeal Section 42. Pictured: Asylum seekers protest Section 42, which allows instant deportation during a pandemic without hearing a petition for grants. refuge
Reports last week warned that the US could face a new wave of mass migration if the administration cancels a provision that border guards have relied on to quell the southern migration crisis during the pandemic.
More than 170,000 migrants are waiting on the Mexican side of the southern border to cross and seek asylum after the policy is lifted, according to Axios. Officials estimate that many of these people are only hours from the border, while others planning to migrate are days away.
The large wait has led to the creation of the Southwest Border Coordination Center (SBCC) to create a multi-agency response to the impending surge.
DHS intelligence estimates that 25,000 migrants are already in Mexican shelters, waiting for Section 42 to end so they can cross the US border.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mallorcas said Border Patrol agents were reminded Thursday afternoon that there are individual exceptions to Section 42 that could apply to Ukrainians arriving at the southern border.
Section 42 was not meant to be permanent, but it continued to apply and be defended in court under Biden as the administration tries to resolve the crisis on the southern border and stop the flow of migrants flooding dozens of countries through Mexico into the United States.
Migrants and asylum seekers march Monday, March 21, 2022 to protest Trump-era Section 42 during a demonstration in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
Since Biden took office, the CBP has faced no less than 2.25 million migrants on its southern border. In February alone, the agency encountered 164,973 migrants, more than 10,000 more than in January (154,745). The highest peak in recent decades came in July 2021 with nearly 214,000 encounters.
Recent reports indicate that the administration is leaning towards repealing Section 42 entirely after they have already been forced to end the practice of unaccompanied minors crossing the border.
The court ruling for migrant children also notes that the CDC “foresees additional lifting of restrictions” as DHS becomes more capable of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in its facilities.
Since Biden took office, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has dealt with at least 2.25 million migrants at the southern border, and officials expect those numbers to rise due to seasonal trends and the expected imminent termination of Section 42.
In February alone, the CBP encountered 164,973 migrants at the southern border, up more than 10,000 from 154,745 in January. The highest peak in several decades came in July 2021 with nearly 214,000 encounters.
In fiscal year 2021, the number of people detained by border guards also reached a record high of 1.7 million people. Officials project similar numbers for fiscal year 2022 with the end of Section 42.
Democrats have been highly critical of Biden’s continued application of Section 42, and immigration advocates are outraged by the low number of adopted refugees.