Kelly Statement on Upcoming Expiration of Title 42 

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly issued the following statement ahead of this week’s expiration of the Title 42 public health authority.

“Arizona has been on the frontlines of this border crisis year after year. It’s why I have continued to push Washington to quickly mobilize resources and improve coordination with border officials, law enforcement, and nonprofits providing humanitarian assistance. This is going to be a real challenge for our state and I will keep working closely with the governor, border leaders, and the Biden Administration to get the necessary resources to provide a secure, orderly, and humane border response,” said Senator Kelly. 

Over the past two weeks, Kelly has met with Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas, been briefed by the Tucson and Yuma Border Patrol Sector Chiefs, and spoken with Arizona border mayors, county officials, and non-profit leaders. Kelly recently spoke with KYMA in Yuma about these conversations and the situation on the border.

Since taking office, Kelly has continued to deliver resources to border communities and law enforcement responding to the border crisis. Recently, Kelly announced that Arizona will receive over $45.4 million through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) to help non-profits and communities on the frontlines of the border and immigration crisis. Last year, Kelly secured more than $1 billion to improve border security, boost Border Patrol agent recruitment and retention, provide additional support for community organizations assisting with the humanitarian response, and other border management priorities.

In addition, Kelly successfully pushed the Biden Administration to permanently close four border barrier gaps near Morelos Dam in Yuma, which posed security and operational challenges for Border Patrol.