WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) is warning the Biden administration’s decision to end a critical Trump-era policy will lead to a surge of illegal immigrants at the southern border and demanding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detail its plans to secure the border.

President Biden last month announced he will eliminate Title 42, a policy implemented by President Trump allowing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to prohibit entry to those who pose health risks such as COVID-19.

“President Biden continues to request more money for pandemic funding and extending COVID-era programs while simultaneously ending a policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Blocking CBP from using Title 42 to deny entry into our country is greenlighting another surge of illegal border crossings. This will exacerbate the national security and humanitarian crisis on our southern border,” Boozman said.

According to reports, the administration is preparing for a surge of more than 170,000 illegal immigrants to enter the United States through the southern border when Title 42 ends in May. 

In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Boozman and other Republican Senators wrote how ending Title 42 continues the administration’s failure to secure the border. 

“Last year, Title 42 was used more than 1 million times to quickly expel individuals who crossed the border illegally. Such a move will undoubtedly leave CBP and law enforcement along the border vulnerable to being overwhelmed in the face of sustained record levels of illegal crossings,” the senators wrote. 

Boozman recently pressed the administration on its plan in a letter led by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and a dozen of his Republican colleagues.