WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today marks the end of Title 42, a Trump-era policy put in place to prevent migrants from entering the United States and furthering the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Meaghan Mobbs, senior fellow at Independent Women’s Forum, released the following statement:
“Our southern border is a national security crisis and a human rights catastrophe. It has been long understood that Title 42 would expire. In its place the current administration failed to develop effective policies to address the unprecedented volume of migrants seeking entry into America. Under Title 42 more than 2.8 million migrants at the border were expelled to Mexico. This historic number is only set to increase alongside the Title 42 lift as, this week, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 26,382 migrant apprehensions in just 72 hours. As the federal response continues to flounder, Texas is deploying 10,000 National Guard members in anticipation of a surge with border cities, like El Paso, declaring states of emergency.
“While these border cities bear the brunt of failed policy, so too do the most vulnerable migrants who are often exploited and victimized. Since President Biden took office, Human Rights First identified over 13,000 incidents of violence, kidnapping, torture, and rape. Porous borders and failed immigration policies have also led to increased trafficking of women and children and fentanyl flooding our communities. The situation is spiraling with no plan or safeguards in place. An insecure and unsafe border puts all of us, including those, in the words of President Reagan, ‘yearning for freedom and opportunity’ in our great country at risk.”