Arizona border sheriff says postponement of end of Title 42 a ‘sigh of relief’

PHOENIX — An Arizona border sheriff is grateful that the end of Title 42 was postponed Tuesday by the Supreme Court for at least the next two months.

Cochise County’s Mark Dannels told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Wednesday the pandemic-era limits on asylum remaining in place until at least February should allow for federal officials and border communities to plan better for the policy’s eventual end.

“It gives communities both on the border and also in our county a sigh of relief,” Dannels said. “But also it gives us some time and opportunity for the federal government to engage in putting an operational plan together.”

A stay imposed last week by Chief Justice John Roberts will remain in place until the justices rule on the case. The policy was initially set to expire Dec. 21.

Dannels hopes the extra time will result in the Biden administration coming up with a plan to deal with an expected surge of migrant crossings.

“The border in such a chaotic state,” Dannels said. “Right now, they need this time right now to come up with an operational plan to address it.”

Dannels said his frustrations are mounting because he believes the migrant situation at the border is the worst it has been in his 38 years with the county.

The burden to deal with migrants is increasingly falling on border communities and law enforcement, according to Dannels.

“This is not political. It’s factual that [the federal government] is not engaging,” Dannels said.

“Border people will tell you that all the way up to their leadership that [the feds] have to engage and they have to embrace communities. At the end of the day, it’s all about communities and citizens in this country.”

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