Here’s what Texas politicians, immigrant groups had to say about Title 42 ruling

After a federal judge in Louisiana issued a ruling Friday blocking the lifting of Title 42 restrictions on those seeking asylum at the border, Texas politicians and immigrant aid groups issued statements about the decision’s impact. The policy allows for the expulsion of migrants for public health reasons because of the COVID pandemic. The Biden administration had said it would allow Title 42 to expire on Monday. But states sued, and the ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays will delay those plans. The Justice Department says it plans to appeal. Politicians and groups that work with immigrants around Texas differed on what the decision means for those along the border. Here are some of their responses:

Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement which said the ruling is “a positive development.” “Another federal court announced today what we have known all along: President Biden is ignoring federal law with his open border policies. While today’s court ruling rejecting President Biden’s ending of Title 42 expulsions is a positive development, hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants remain at our southern border ready to flood into Texas. Texas will continue utilizing all available resources and strategies to prevent this mass illegal migration, including the deployment of Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas National Guard resources, the coordination with Mexican border governors, and the activation of the Joint Border Security Operations Center.” U.S. Rep Joaquin Castro, a Democrat who represents San Antonio, focused on the effect the ruling will have on immigrant communities. “Today’s district court decision is disappointing and wrong. For more than two years, Title 42 has stripped legitimate asylum-seekers of their legal right to seek safety in the United States. Judge Summerhays’ decision to block the end of Title 42 will break our immigration system even further and cause unconscionable suffering for asylum-seekers and immigrant communities. As states roll back their pandemic health measures, there is no excuse to keep Title 42 in place.”