WASHINGTON, D.C. – This weekend, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) joined Fox News to discuss the Biden Administration’s proposed lifting of Title 42 and its impact on border security. Houlahan and dozens of Congressional Democrats have expressed concerns that removing this public health order is premature. During the interview, Houlahan also highlighted the work of soldiers deployed to the southern border and gave her condolences to the family of a Texas National Guardsman who reportedly drowned while assisting a migrant late last week. 

On Immigration and Border Security  

Aishah Hasnie: We appreciate your time. I want to start down at the border, especially with this National Guard soldier who we fear has downed in the Rio Grande River trying to rescue migrants who were crossing over—such a dangerous feat as these folk try to come into this country. The President hasn't yet said anything about this tragedy; should he?   

Houlahan: Well, thank you first of all for having me, and this indeed does sound like it is a tragedy, and of course, our hearts should all go out to him and to his family for his service and for the efforts to protect people who are doing their best to pursue the beauty that is the American Dream. In fact, I am a daughter of a refugee myself; my father came here as a five-year-old with his young mom and grandmother, having actually survived the Holocaust. In fact, he was born in what is now Ukraine. I have an enormous amount of empathy for people trying to pursue – one generation later, I sit in front of you, as Member of Congress – a life that America promises. But we definitely have issues at the border that we need to be addressing so this process can be done safely and humanely for everyone who is involved.   

Aishah Hasnie: Do you think the President should take as an opportunity though to reach out to those folks who perhaps might feel that the Federal Government isn't doing enough to help their cause? 

Houlahan: Sure, I believe that there is something that needs to be done in this area, not just at the southern border but, frankly, all of our borders. We need to be thoughtful about a strategic and comprehensive immigration plan. I had the opportunity to go to the border a while ago and had the chance to see so many of the people, as you have mentioned, National Guard or Immigration or Border Patrol, who are working so hard to be able to provide that humane landing spot, but we haven't given them the tools to be able to succeed. There frankly really is a disjointed process, and we really need to be shoring those folks up to give them opportunities to succeed. I very much would like to call not just the President but, frankly, some of my colleagues in Congress and in the Senate to work together collaboratively, bipartisanly, to come up with some solutions. This is not something that should be a red or blue issue. This is an issue of the promise of this Nation, and this is an issue of the promise that we have to make sure we are keeping each other safe as well.    

On Title 42 and Biden Administration’s plan to Remove the Public Health Order   

Aishah Hasnie: I have been talking with border patrol agents – I have been down to the border twice now – there has been a growing concern for quite some time that once Title 42 is lifted, we are going to see an even bigger surge of migrants illegally crossing into the border. More and more Democrats, as you know, are splitting with the President on this plan to lift Title 42 – I believe we are now up to 47 Democrats in both the House and the Senate combined – you're among them. Why now speak out when this crisis has been ongoing, and what is your message to the President?   

Houlahan: Sure, and this is specifically about Title 42. Title 42, in its original intent, was designed because we were in a global pandemic, an unprecedented global pandemic, and we still are. So, my encouragement to the administration is to revisit the decision to pull that back because in our country and globally, we are still under this pandemic situation. So, I think it is premature to pull back Title 42 without really thinking hard about all the inconsistencies that still exist if you do that at the southern border, but perhaps don't do things in other places. And so, that is why now, but I would also again reiterate that there is a responsibility not only to look at that particular issue – Title 42 – but also to look holistically at the issue of border control all over and border safety. 

Watch the full interview here. 

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Small Business Committee. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward.”