MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The increased number of immigrants into the United State’s southern border has become a topic of debate among national lawmakers.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says his department has been anticipating the lifting of Title 42 since September. The  measure keeps asylum-seekers on the Mexican side of the border while waiting for court appearances due to the pandemic. A federal judge in Louisiana has temporarily halted the lifting of Title 42, which was set to expire May 23rd.

Berkeley County Sheriff Nathan Harmon says it’s more than just people coming through the border:

He says sheriffs across the nation want Title 42 to remain:

He says fentanyl and other dangerous drugs are being imported into the country at record numbers:

He said during routine patrols on the interstate, one deputy uncovered four separate incidents involving human trafficking.

Sheriff Harmon was a guest on Tuesday’s Panhandle Live. You can hear the full interview on our Panhandle Live Facebook and Spotify.

On April 1, 2022, the CDC officially announced they would rescind Title 42. However in order to allow for the implementation of a vaccine program to get migrants vaccinated at the border, the policy will not officially end until May 23, 2022.

Last week a federal judge temporarily blocked the Biden administration from winding down the use of Title 42 and indicated that he plans to block efforts to end Title 42 altogether.