Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly wants answers on how DHS will handle end of Title 42

PHOENIX – U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly said he’s expecting to hear back from Homeland Security soon addressing continuing issues he and fellow Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema have about the impending termination of Title 42 border crossing restrictions.

“We are expecting our answers back from DHS, I think, today or tomorrow,” Kelly told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday.

“We’re working with the DHS and the administration to make sure that when Title 42 is lifted … that this doesn’t end up chaos on top of a crisis,” he said.

Kelly, Sinema and two other Democratic senators wrote to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Nov. 18 of their “deep concerns” about preparedness for the end of Title 42, a COVID-related border policy that limited asylum-seekers’ entry to the United States.

The policy is scheduled to end Dec. 21. The senators asked Mayorkas very specific questions in the letter and pointed out that the end to Title 42 would significantly increase the number of migrants apprehended along the southwest border.

“The goal would be to do something as soon as possible,” he said.

There have been some improvements at the border, said Kelly, who was reelected in November.

“There are some positive things but we still have a crisis. It’s bad. We can’t continue to leave this on the backs of southern Arizona,” he said.

Kelly will begin his first full term – six years – in January.

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