Three Republican states file suit to stop Biden administration ending Title 42 border policy

Three Republican-led states Monday announced they have filed a suit to prevent the Biden administration from lifting the Trump-era, public health order known as Title 42 to has allow to keep illegal migrants and others out of the U.S. during the pandemic.

Attorneys general in Arizona, Louisiana, and Missouri filed the suit in U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana  Lafayette Division.

President Trump activated the 1940s law near the start of the pandemic as the COVID-19-related death toll soared. While, many have expected the law would eventually have to be deactivated, as case numbers drop, they also argue the administration still has no plan to address the address the resulted, expected surge on migrants at the border.

"This suit challenges an imminent, man-made, self-inflicted calamity: the abrupt elimination of the only safety valve preventing this administration’s disastrous border policies from devolving into an unmitigated catastrophe," reads the suit.

The AGs argue that the termination of the order will result in a number of higher costs for the states, including higher health care costs for illegal migrants infected with COVID-19, as well as "the presence of much greater numbers of paroled aliens with non-meritorious asylum claims who were induced to enter the United States because of the Termination Order."

"While it’s difficult to identify President Biden’s most irresponsible move since taking office, rescinding Title 42 is certainly up there. It’s a ridiculously poor decision with a bad intention for border states and American communities across the country. This administration’s reckless pandering to the far Left and complete abdication of its responsibility to public safety cannot be allowed to continue," said Arizona AG Mark Brnovich in a statement.

Last week, the Biden administration announced it would be ending the application of Title 42, despite the likelihood of a massive wave of illegal immigrants at the U.S. southern border. 

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claims that his agency has established a "comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to manage any potential increase in the number of migrants encountered at our border"

"We are increasing our capacity to process new arrivals, evaluate asylum requests, and quickly remove those who do not qualify for protection. We will increase personnel and resources as needed and have already redeployed more than 600 law enforcement officers to the border. We are referring smugglers and certain border crossers for criminal prosecution. Over the next two months, we are putting in place additional, appropriate COVID-19 protocols, including ramping up our vaccination program," he said in a statement.