Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) urged the Biden administration on Sunday to adopt a policy similar to the pandemic-era Title 42. This policy permitted border patrol agents to reject migrants at the border without considering asylum claims due to the public health emergency.
In an interview on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” Graham emphasized the need for the administration to utilize Title 42-like authority to convey that the capacity is full. He pointed out that the asylum claim process takes four years, and there are approximately 1.7 million people awaiting deportation, but the actual deportations are not being carried out.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) emphasized the need for the implementation of Title 42 authority to address the influx of migrants at the U.S. border. He suggested using this authority to inform individuals arriving at the border that the country is at full capacity, thereby discouraging further entries.
Graham’s comments come amid stalled talks on Capitol Hill regarding an aid package addressing border security, the asylum process, and providing assistance to Ukraine and Israel. He mentioned that “expedited removal is on the table” in ongoing discussions and expressed concern about the Biden administration’s use of “humanitarian parole.” Senator Lindsey Graham
The senator advocated for enforcing existing laws, expressing a desire to address asylum system abuses and emphasizing the application of Title 42 authority. He highlighted the importance of prioritizing the deportation of the 1.7 million individuals awaiting removal before admitting new entrants.
The Biden administration recently dispatched high-ranking officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, to Mexico City to seek cooperation in reducing migrant numbers at the U.S. southern border. Graham also discussed potential legislative measures with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to address the migrant flow, referencing a previous immigration reform bill passed by House Republicans in May.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) outlined key elements he believes could facilitate the passage of immigration-related measures through the House, including asylum reform, parole limitations, and the reinstatement of Title 42. He emphasized the need for substantive policy changes, particularly in initiating deportations to deter further migration.
Graham also warned that if former President Trump were to return to the White House, one could anticipate a significant increase in deportations. He asserted that under Trump’s leadership, individuals present in the country unlawfully and with final deportation orders would face a substantial deportation effort.