Texas Republicans in Congress continue withering criticism of Biden as Title 42 nears end

AUSTIN — With what appears to be the imminent end to Title 42 this week, Texas Republicans in Congress are stepping up their criticism of the Democratic Biden approach to the burgeoning immigration crisis, predicting even more chaos at the nation's border with Mexico as thousands of migrants amass near points of entry from Brownsville to El Paso.

"The Biden administration has had a couple of years to plan for this, and I believe they've done virtually nothing to do so," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn told Texas reporters on a conference call last week. "The president has not done anything to discourage illegal immigration, other than mouthing the words occasionally."

The comment came less than a week before Title 42 is set to end on May 11. The policy was put in place during the Trump administration to allow immigration authorities to immediately expel asylum seekers at the border as a means to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Other Texas Republicans in Congress have used their social media platforms, issued news releases and made appearances on national news outlets to further warn that federal authorities are unprepared for the expected boom in unauthorized border crossings and drug smuggling, and that lifting the policy essentially invites migrants to the border to make dubious claims that they deserve asylum in the United States.

“Over six million people have crossed illegally under Joe Biden," Sen. Ted Cruz said in a news release May 9. "Last year, over 100,000 people died of drug overdoses, the vast majority of which was Chinese fentanyl streaming across the border under Joe Biden."

More: When Title 42 expires, will migrants be prosecuted for crossing border illegally?

On Twitter, the state's junior senator added: "There are currently 700,000 illegal aliens at the southern border waiting for Title 42 to expire. President Biden has overseen the worst border crisis in US history."

The two Texas GOP Congress members who represent parts of the border, Tony Gonzales of San Antonio and Monica De La Cruz of Edinburg, have called the administration's actions at the border inadequate and misdirected.

“They’re putting all their time and effort into illegal immigration, finding ways to increase capacity, finding ways where people can come over illegally quicker," Gonzales recently told CBS News. "The reality is 9 out of 10 people that come over into our country illegally do not qualify for asylum."

De La Cruz said U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who recently visited her region for a firsthand look at conditions along the Rio Grande, should be removed from office.

More: Title 42 order nears end: Abbott sends Guard's Texas Tactical Border Force to El Paso

"Secretary Mayorkas' photo op against the backdrop of a border humanitarian crisis the Biden administration has known for months would happen only confirms that his impeachment is long overdue," she said in a news release.

While White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday said the administration is prepared to handle the fallout of lifting Title 42, Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar of Laredo said President Joe Biden has moved too far to the left on immigration, which is alienating centrist Americans.

“The administration needs to go to the center, and I’ve asked them to go to the center, and I think some of the policies that they’re about to implement brings them to the center, in my opinion, a little bit too late, but at least they’re getting policies that will come to the center,” Cuellar told Fox News on May 7.

In an op-ed published May 8 in the El Paso Times, Democratic Congresswoman Veronica Escobar said the White House is taking unfair criticism from Republicans seeking to leverage the crisis in her hometown for a political advantage.

More: How will El Paso handle the end of Title 42? Border Patrol chief shares his plans

"The Biden Administration has been working on solutions to these chronic issues, collaborating with the neighboring countries of Mexico, Colombia, and Panama to tackle human smuggling and opening up some legal pathways to help take the pressure off the border," Escobar wrote. "Addressing root causes of migration has also been a priority for the administration, and much of that work has begun to show success. But those investments and collaborations take time to bear fruit."

Jean-Pierre, in her White House briefing, faulted Republicans in Congress for standing in the way of efforts to achieve bipartisan solutions.

"We have a robust multiagency plan to humanely manage the border through enforcement, deterrence and diplomacy," she said. "And we're implementing that plan with our regional partners using the few tools we have remaining because, again, Congress has failed to act. "They want to play politics and actually not deal with an issue that has challenged us for decades."

John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at jmoritz@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @JohnnieMo.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas Republicans not sparing criticism of Biden on ending Title 42