Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) announced Wednesday his opposition to the Biden administration’s decision to allow Title 42 to expire this week, pledging his support for efforts to secure the southern border.
“I oppose the Biden administration plan to end Title 42 this week without a real plan in place, for the strain that will put on an already broken immigration system,” Tester said in a video statement.
GOP LAWMAKER ARGUES TITLE 42 SHOULD BE EXTENDED BECAUSE OF FENTANYL CRISIS
Tester advocated for more time for the Department of Homeland Security to gain “the tools they need to get a better handle on the crisis at our southern border.
“My top priority is defending Montana and keeping our nation safe,” Tester said. “That means standing up to anyone, including President Biden, to secure the southern border and stop the deadly flow of fentanyl into our communities.”
Last month, Tester co-sponsored the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act with potential Republican 2024 presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), to combat the fentanyl crisis by imposing economic sanctions on supply chains. The bill will impose sanctions “on the money laundering that makes it profitable.”
Last week, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) also introduced bipartisan legislation to grant a temporary authorization for two years to allow the U.S. to deny migrants asylum due to ongoing public health concerns.
Republicans are bringing the Secure the Border Act of 2023 to the floor soon for a vote on Thursday, calling for more border control and mandates to complete the Trump-era border wall.
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The White House has said the president will veto the measure.
Border towns are seeing an influx of migrants as the Title 42 expiration date nears, and both Republicans and Democrats are putting pressure on the Biden administration to take action before the crisis worsens.
