Democrat urges Mayorkas to collaborate with GOP on immigration.

Savannah Hulsey PointerMay 8, 2023

A Bipartisan Solution Needed for Immigration as Title 42 Nears an End

Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) Urges President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to Work with Republicans

A Democrat member of Congress has demanded that President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas work with Republicans to find a bipartisan solution on immigration as Title 42 nears an end.

In her May 8 letter (pdf) to the Department of Homeland Security head, Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) warned that the anticipated influx of unlawful border-crossers after Title 42 ends on May 11 could exacerbate an existing “humanitarian and refugee crisis” if nothing is done to mitigate it.

“As the President has decided to lift the [Title 42] order this week, we now face a doubling of illegal crossings at our southern border by some estimates, exacerbating the current humanitarian and refugee crisis,” Davids wrote.

While Mayorkas has signaled a plan to deal with immigrants entering the United States illegally, saying they could face a new, expedited deportation process, Davids advocated for a plan that would both secure the border and offer a path to citizenship for unlawful immigrants.

A Comprehensive, Long-Term Plan with Bipartisan Support Needed

In her message, Davids said that any plan to help solve problems at the southern border would need the backing of both the Senate, currently controlled by Democrats, and the House, where Republicans hold the majority.

“While you have presented a list of ways you plan to address the surge of migration, some of which I agree with, we still have not reached a comprehensive, long-term plan with bipartisan support.”

She pointed out that it will soon be one of the most important issues in her chamber as the GOP works on a bill to deal with immigration and the border as a whole.

“U.S. House Republicans plan to initiate debate about immigration reform in the coming weeks. I urge you and the White House to join me in engaging in these conversations about what the landscape for immigration reform in our country should look like,” she wrote.

New Regulation to Presume Ineligibility for Asylum for Those Who Enter Illegally

Mayorkas has signaled a plan to deal with immigrants entering the United States illegally, saying they could face a new, expedited deportation process.

“The new regulation “provides that individuals who do not access our lawful pathways will be presumed ineligible for asylum and will have a higher burden of proof, to overcome that assumption of ineligibility,” Mayorkas said at a news conference on May 5.

Conclusion

It is clear that a comprehensive, long-term plan with bipartisan support is needed to address the immigration crisis at the southern border. Rep. Sharice Davids has urged President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to work with Republicans to find a solution that both secures the border and offers a path to citizenship for unlawful immigrants. As the GOP works on a bill to deal with immigration and the border as a whole, it is crucial that all parties engage in conversations about what the landscape for immigration reform in our country should look like.