Reps. Roy, Herrell move to force House vote on extending Trump-era border restrictions

EXCLUSIVE: Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., on Monday moved to force a vote on a bill that would keep a Trump-era public health order -- which allows migrants to be rapidly expelled from the U.S. -- in place until the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions are repealed.

Title 42 is a CDC order put in place in March of last year under the Trump administration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows for the rapid expulsion, often within hours, of migrants encountered at the southern border. While in place for public health reasons, it proved one of the most significant and effective measures in keeping migrants out of the U.S and keeping migrant facilities empty. In May 2020, the number of migrants in custody was just 117. While fiercely opposed by liberal activists and some Democrats, the Biden administration has not fully repealed it -- but, crucially, it is not applying it to unaccompanied children (UACs). Critics have said it has fueled the historic surge in UACs at the border in recent months that has overwhelmed border agents and led to images of crowded border facilities.