Republican-Led States Sue Biden Administration For Curbing Trump's Pandemic Restrictions On Immigration

Three Republican-led states have launched a lawsuit against the Biden administration after it announced that it would end a pandemic-era restriction on immigration.

Last Friday, the states of Louisiana, Arizona and Missouri filed a lawsuit that accused the administration of violating federal law by issuing the order that revoked a provision known as Title 42 which was implemented by former President Donald Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health precaution. Their suit argues that by rescinding the restrictions, it has created the risk of a surge in immigration that has the potential of overwhelming state as well as federal resources.

“Defendants’ unlawful termination of the Title 42 policy will induce a significant increase of illegal immigration into the United States, with many migrants asserting non-meritorious asylum claims,” the states wrote in their suit.

Republican opponents of President Joe Biden’s decision have been echoing these concerns since it was announced that Title 42 would be rolled back on May 21.

Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican viewed by many as a possible challenger to Biden in 2024, panned the decision as a “dereliction of duty” by creating what he said will be a security and humanitarian crisis along the U.S. southern border.

"Joe Biden's reckless border policies have allowed 2+ million foreigners to enter our country illegally via the southern border. Revoking Title 42 will supercharge the skyrocketing flow of illegal aliens, increasing drug, human and sex trafficking," DeSantis posted on Twitter.

Congressional Republicans were similarly opposed to Biden's decision on Title 42. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said on Saturday that it was the "worst possible time" to consider eliminating the provision, which he called a "vital" tool for border security. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., warned that the decision will send a message to would-be migrants that could result in a historic crisis.

"Based on what I am being told by officials in South & Central America, I expect Biden’s decision to end Title 42 to lead to the biggest migration crisis in U.S. history," Rubio posted Monday on Twitter.