Title 42, the pandemic-era border restriction, has been used nearly 3 million times to expel migrants arriving at the nation’s borders since March 2020. The restriction is expected to lift May 11 when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
José Ignacio Castañeda Perez
Arizona Republic
Rep. Ruben Gallego has started to cement his position on Title 42 days before the restriction is poised to lift and as he could face Sen. Kyrsten Sinema in the 2024 election.
Title 42, the pandemic-era border restriction, has been used nearly 3 million times to expel migrants arriving at the nation’s borders since March 2020. The restriction is expected to lift May 11 when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
Sinema, I-Ariz., who has filed preliminary paperwork to run for reelection but hasn’t officially announced her plans, has introduced legislation, sent numerous letters to officials and visited various border communities to meet with local officials and nonprofits in the run-up to Title 42’s end.
Gallego, D-Ariz., has begun to echo Sinema by urging the Biden administration to provide more resources and information ahead of Title 42’s projected lifting in a week.
Both Gallego and Sinema have focused their messaging on the effect that Title 42’s sunset will have on Arizona communities, nonprofits and law enforcement.
“Rep. Gallego has long been clear: our immigration system is in serious need of reform, and that Title 42 is not a long term solution,” Jacques Petit, Gallego’s communications director, said in a written statement.
“With courts forcing the program to end next Thursday, municipalities and counties along Arizona’s border need resources now to deal with the influx they’re expecting.”
Rep. Ruben Gallego greets supporters during a public rally at Grant Park in Phoenix on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, kicking off his U.S. Senate campaign.
Sinema and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., introduced legislation on Thursday that would establish a temporary two-year extension that would allow officials to expel migrants from the U.S. and function similarly to Title 42, Politico first reported.
“Despite our repeated calls, the Biden Administration failed to plan ahead and implement a realistic, workable plan; our legislation gives them more time to put a plan in place that will secure our border, protect Arizona communities on the frontlines of this crisis, and ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely,” Sinema said in a written statement.
