Pandemic Relief/Immigration

Before the start of the two-week recess, Republicans blocked a pandemic aid package because Democratic leadership did not want to allow a vote on an amendment to force President Biden to keep the pandemic border restrictions in place (also known as Title 42).  The administration plans to rescind the policy next month, which has restricted migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Several moderate Democrats have joined their Republican colleagues on concerns about a potential migration influx when the asylum restrictions are lifted, even after the majority of their Democratic caucus pushed for the President to end the controversial, two-year public health directive. A group of Republican officials want a federal judge in Louisiana to step in. Attorneys general from 21 states want a court order that requires the administration to continue expelling migrants who cross the southwest border under the public health directive. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have charged the administration with failing to properly plan for the directive's termination, which they warn could spur a significant migration influx.