The Biden administration’s plan to end the Title 42 public health order – a move that many fear will significantly worsen the situation at the southern border – has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge in Louisiana. Two dozen states had sued the administration over its intent to ax Title 42, introduced in 2020. The order allowed the federal government to remove most illegal border-crossers because of the COVID-19 health crisis.
A number of Republican attorneys general argued that dropping the order would lead to a significant influx of illegal aliens across the already overwhelmed southern border. Democrats in border states were also angered by the administration’s plan. Judge Robert Summerhays granted a preliminary injunction, acknowledging the states’ claim “that the Termination Order will result in increased border crossings and that, based on the government’s estimates, the increase may be as high as three-fold,” was supported by the record.
“In sum, the Plaintiff States have demonstrated that the Termination Order will affect their ‘quasi-sovereign’ interests based on its impact on their healthcare systems and their interest in the health and welfare of their citizens,” Summerhays wrote. The Justice Department is expected to appeal the ruling.
Federal legislation to prevent the administration from ending Title 42 – supported by a number of Democrats – is awaiting a vote.
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said, “Today’s ruling is a significant win as Title 42 is one of the few policies that is actually working. I’m grateful to the court for upholding the rule of law and helping maintain some level of sanity as we continue to battle the Biden-made border crisis.”
