Hoeven Statement After Federal Judge Upholds Title 42

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after a federal judge upheld the Title 42 Public Health Order, blocking the Biden administration’s plan to revoke the immigration tool on Monday, May 23. The Title 42 Public Health Order allows immigration officials to expeditiously return illegal immigrants to their home country and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We welcome this federal injunction blocking the Biden administration from ending Title 42. This public health order is an important immigration tool that should continue to be enforced to help secure our border,” said Hoeven. “I was down in Del Rio and Eagle Pass a few weeks ago to support our North Dakota Guard members and to draw attention to the growing illegal immigration crisis at the southern border, which would only be made worse if Title 42 is lifted. We’ll continue pressing the administration to enforce the law and secure the border.” 

Hoeven has been working to secure the border and extend Title 42, including:  

In addition to Title 42, Hoeven has been pressing the administration to secure the border and utilize existing immigration tools, including:

• The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) or Remain in Mexico Policy, which requires people seeking asylum at the southern border to wait in Mexico while their case is 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.

Hoeven previously traveled to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas to meet with CBP personnel and local leaders on the southern border. Hoeven also traveled with a bipartisan congressional delegation to Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia and Guatemala to discuss the need to work together to stop illegal migration and prevent human and drug trafficking.

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