12.28.22

Hoeven: SCOTUS Ruling to Maintain Title 42 a Win For Border Security; Biden Administration Needs to Enforce Our Laws

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling to maintain the Title 42 Public Health Order while litigation on the issue proceeds. The decision reverses an earlier federal court opinion that enabled the Biden administration to rescind the immigration tool, which allows immigration officials to return illegal immigrants to their home country and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hoeven has been working to keep Title 42 in place and has repeatedly called on the Biden administration to address the ongoing illegal immigration crisis at the nation’s southern border. To this end, the senator:

“President Biden’s policies are creating a humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border,” said Hoeven. “By rescinding tools like Title 42 and refusing to enforce our laws, the Biden administration is enabling human trafficking and drug smuggling into our nation. That not only undermines our national security, but contributes to the overdose epidemic that has brought tragedy to communities and families across the country. This SCOTUS ruling is a step in the right direction, but the Biden administration needs to change course and take real action to secure our borders.”

In addition to maintaining Title 42, Hoeven is pressing the Biden administration to:

  • Enforce the nation’s laws and secure the southern border, including resuming construction of the border wall and putting in place the necessary infrastructure, personnel and technology.
  • Reinstate key immigration policies, such as:
    • The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) or Remain in Mexico Policy, which required people seeking asylum at the southern border to wait in Mexico while their case was adjudicated.
    • The Safe Third Country Agreements so those seeking asylum from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala can be returned to their home country to await the outcome of their claims.
  • Move toward a merit-based immigration system.

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