WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) today joined over 20 of her colleagues in sending a letter led by Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19) imploring President Joe Biden to uphold Title 42, which President Trump implemented in March 2020 to prioritize the health and safety of the American people by maintaining immigration restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19 across the U.S. border. 

“As you may know, illegal border crossings place a significant strain on law enforcement working to secure the border and healthcare workers trying to contain the spread of COVID-19 in these communities,” the letter says. “Weakening or repealing Title 42 will put our CBP officers at risk, add additional strains to the healthcare delivery systems in border communities, and incentivize more illegal immigrants to come to the US at a time when we must prioritize the health and safety of Americans first.”

“With all the efforts the Trump Administration, and now your Administration, have taken to test, prevent, and treat our nation’s citizens and slow the spread of COVID-19, repealing Title 42 would be illogical and indefensible,” they continued. “In fact, your Administration requires American citizens to produce proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon returning to the US after traveling to another country. It would be ludicrous to require American citizens to present a negative COVID test upon reentry while simultaneously inviting illegal immigrants to enter our country with no testing requirement or regard for our rule of law.”

On March 21, 2020, President Trump implemented 42 U.S.C. § 265 authority after analyzing the threat of COVID-19 in Mexico and Canada to prioritize the health of American citizens and reject entry of any individual unlawfully entering the country. 

To read the full letter, click here.

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