Biden is doing Democrats dirty by trying to punt the Title 42 decision


The White House has a mess on its hands with Title 42, the Trump-era public health provision used to turn away migrants during the pandemic to slow the spread of COVID-19. They want Congress to clean it up.
"This would be Congress having the discussion. We are continuing to prepare for a May 23 implementation" of lifting the order, President Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday at a White House briefing. "There will be a range of conversations about this over the coming days."
When it comes to lifting the Title 42 rule and potentially triggering yet another surge at the border, the administration's line is simple: this is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's decision; they follow the science; CDC wants to lift this restriction.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But Democrats are split over this decision. Democratic members of Congress are up for re-election this year, not Biden. Among the reasons they are likely to lose their majorities is Biden's persistent mismanagement of the border crisis — the president is 22 points underwater on immigration, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
On the flip side, liberals who want the rule lifted are upset that Biden hasn't used enough executive power on immigration. That has resulted in key Biden allies like House Minority Whip James Clyburn, who helped the president win the Democratic nomination in 2020, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly unhappy with how the White House has dealt with Title 42.
Punting the issue to Congress adds insult to injury. But there's a silver lining for Democrats. Biden and the at-risk Democratic lawmakers may have been saved by the courts: A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked Biden from lifting Title 42 in the latest rebuke to the administration's executive actions on the pandemic. This time, the longer it is delayed, the better off the Democrats will be.
Unless, of course, Title 42 is lifted right before the voters head to the polls. That won't be a pretty scene for Democrats in Congress, who find themselves quoting Oliver Hardy to Biden: "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!"
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
W. James Antle III is the politics editor of the Washington Examiner, the former editor of The American Conservative, and author of Devouring Freedom: Can Big Government Ever Be Stopped?.
-
How will the new tax deductions on auto loans work?
the explainer Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited
-
Is Trump actually going to prosecute Obama for 'treason'?
Today's Big Question Or is this just a distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal?
-
5 best movie sequels of all time
The Week Recommends The second time is only sometimes as good as the first
-
Deportations: The growing backlash
Feature New poll numbers show declining support for Trump's deportation crackdown
-
Are we facing a summer of riots?
Today's Big Question Anti-immigrant unrest in Essex has sparked fears of a summer of disorder
-
Gavin Newsom mulls California redistricting to counter Texas gerrymandering
TALKING POINTS A controversial plan has become a major flashpoint among Democrats struggling for traction in the Trump era
-
'No one should be surprised by this cynical strategy'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Big, beautiful bill: Supercharging ICE
Feature With billions in new funding, ICE is set to expand its force of agents and build detention camps capable of holding more than 100,000 people
-
Deportations: Citizens could be next
Feature the Trump is expanding denaturalization efforts, targeting naturalized citizens and birthright citizenship
-
The Supreme Court and Congress have Planned Parenthood in their crosshairs
Talking Points Trump's budget bill and the court's ruling threaten abortion access
-
How will Trump's megabill affect you?
Today's Big Question Republicans have passed the 'big, beautiful bill' through Congress