search
Sections List
American Journal News

GOP senators oppose COVID safety rules — except those that restrict immigration

Senate Republicans are objecting to the Biden administration’s decision to lift a Trump-era rule that kept asylum-seekers out of the country.

By Josh Israel - March 31, 2022
Share
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)

Senate Republicans are livid about reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will lift a temporary pandemic rule that keeps asylum-seekers out of the country. But the same GOP lawmakers have pushed to lift virtually every other COVID-19 safety rule, claiming the national emergency is over.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the executive branch plans to end the two-year-old public health order — issued by President Donald Trump’s administration under Title 42 of the U.S. Code — restricting the rights of migrants to ask for asylum in the United States if they come from countries where the coronavirus is present (which is nearly all of them).

Before and after the report, GOP senators have been railing against such a move.

“Ending Title 42 would be a disaster for the already chaotic #BidenBorderCrisis,” tweeted Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn. “It’s time for Biden to do the right thing, and prioritize our border security.”

“If it is true that the Biden Administration is talking about repealing Title 42 authority to deport illegal immigrants due to COVID, it would be a nightmare on multiple levels,” agreed Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. “It sends a signal encouraging even more illegal immigration, putting the problem on steroids.”

Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford announced that he would obstruct President Joe Biden’s homeland security efforts to retaliate for the decision. “Biden’s plan to lift Title 42 at our border is a recipe for chaos during an already out of control crisis at our border,” he said. “I will object to all DHS nominations that Leader Schumer brings to the floor until DHS provides us a plan that will end the chaos.”

Title 42, which was enacted in 1944, states that the U.S. government may prohibit or restrict immigrants’ entry if the surgeon general determines “there is serious danger” of a disease being introduced into the United States from a foreign country, and if that danger is “increased by the introduction of persons or property from such country that a suspension of the right to introduce such persons and property is required in the interest of the public health.”

Trump, who spent most of his administration trying to find ways to block even legal immigration, invoked the rule in March 2020 as an excuse to expel people seeking asylum at the southern border.

The move had little basis in science. The coronavirus was already in the United States and spread without control as Trump refused to take the problem seriously. And while public health experts objected that the immigration restrictions would not curb the spread, the Biden administration has so far kept the Trump-era rule in place.

Public health experts have urged the Biden administration to lift the Title 42 restrictions. Dr. Michele Heisler, a professor at the University of Michigan Medical School and School of Public Health, wrote in January that it was past time to get rid of “a cruel and discriminatory policy that does nothing to safeguard public health and instead returns to danger men, women, and children who are doing nothing other than exercising their right to seek asylum.”

Congressional Democrats have also called for an end to the policy.

But Republicans have pushed to keep it in place indefinitely — even as they have pushed to ban more effective coronavirus safety rules like face mask, vaccination, and testing requirements.

On March 2, Senate Republicans unanimously backed a resolution authored by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) to deem the U.S. government’s coronavirus national state of emergency declaration — which was originally issued by Trump in March 2020 to let the executive branch streamline its pandemic response — “hereby terminated.”

“With COVID cases and hospitalizations on the decline, 94 percent of Americans having immunity to COVID, mask mandates falling by the wayside, and 70 percent of Americans agreeing ‘it’s time we accept that COVID is here to stay’ and that ‘we just need to get on with our lives,’ it’s clear we need [a] new approach to COVID as we learn to live with it. That new approach starts with putting an end to the COVID national state of emergency,” Marshall said in a Feb. 14 press release.

All but one Senate Republican — Utah Sen. Mitt Romney — voted on March 15 to end mask requirements for airplanes and public transit systems.

“As the entire world is learning to live with COVID, the federal government still uses fearmongering to stubbornly perpetuate its mandates, rather than giving clear-eyed, rational advice on how to best protect yourself from illness,” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the resolution’s author, said. “That is why I forced this vote, and I applaud the Senate for rejecting this nonsense.”

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


AJ News
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Read More
Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

By Jesse Valentine - March 18, 2025
HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

By Jesse Valentine - March 11, 2025
Cost, access still barriers to medical care for Black Ohio women

Cost, access still barriers to medical care for Black Ohio women

By Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal - October 15, 2024
Texas’ abortion laws are straining the OB/GYN workforce, new study shows

Texas’ abortion laws are straining the OB/GYN workforce, new study shows

By Eleanor Klibanoff, Texas Tribune - October 08, 2024
AJ News
Latest
Texas women face prosecution for abortions if new bill becomes law

Texas women face prosecution for abortions if new bill becomes law

By Bonnie Fuller - May 16, 2025
It’s not just Medicaid—House Republicans want to cut food stamps too

It’s not just Medicaid—House Republicans want to cut food stamps too

By Jesse Valentine - May 15, 2025
Disability advocates arrested protesting GOP Medicaid cuts

Disability advocates arrested protesting GOP Medicaid cuts

By Jesse Valentine - May 14, 2025
Republican Bill Huizenga cheers power plant funds he tried to block

Republican Bill Huizenga cheers power plant funds he tried to block

By Jesse Valentine - May 12, 2025
Jack Ciattarelli called harmful tariffs a “grand experiment”

Jack Ciattarelli called harmful tariffs a “grand experiment”

By Jesse Valentine - May 09, 2025
Paul LePage, a Medicaid critic, launches congressional bid in Maine

Paul LePage, a Medicaid critic, launches congressional bid in Maine

By Jesse Valentine - May 06, 2025
Earle-Sears ignored trans issues in office—now she uses them as a wedge

Earle-Sears ignored trans issues in office—now she uses them as a wedge

By Jesse Valentine - May 05, 2025
Trump effectively shuts down campaign finance watchdog

Trump effectively shuts down campaign finance watchdog

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2025
Ciattarelli wants a DOGE-style commission to crack down on New Jersey Medicaid recipients

Ciattarelli wants a DOGE-style commission to crack down on New Jersey Medicaid recipients

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2025
House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

By Jesse Valentine - April 24, 2025
Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

By Jesse Valentine - April 22, 2025
Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

By Jesse Valentine - April 21, 2025
“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

By Bonnie Fuller - April 21, 2025
Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

By Jesse Valentine - April 17, 2025
Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

By Jesse Valentine - April 16, 2025
North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

By Jesse Valentine - April 11, 2025
Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

By Jesse Valentine - April 09, 2025
Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

By Jesse Valentine - April 08, 2025
Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

By Jesse Valentine - March 28, 2025
Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

By Jesse Valentine - March 26, 2025