Title 42 has been an issue of controversy, especially with the ongoing Border Crisis that has persisted since early last year. Republicans have remained supportive of the, "Remain in Mexico" policy, especially Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) who claimed reversing Title 42 would be a "ass-backward" decision.
The Remain in Mexico policy was a Trump-era border protection policy that requires immigrants from Mexico to remain in Mexico during their asylum until their application is considered by a judge.
Although Democrats like Rep. Sheila Sherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) fiercely opposed the policy, Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) amid her Senate bid was caught sidestepping questions regarding Title 42.
Rep. Mast released a video responding to the Democrat backlash and calls to reverse Title 42, where he called the idea an, "ass-backwards decision.":
"In 2021, there were over 2 million illegal border crossings at the Southern Border alone, not including those individuals that customs and border protection didn't catch. 11,200 pounds of fentanyl and 5,400 pounds of heroin were all seized at the Southern Border." Rep. Mast continued, "This is not surprising because like every other policy under President Biden, his immigration policy is completely ass-backwards."
Mast even compared the border patrol agents of the Trump era to the current administration, saying illegal immigrants, "used to run," from border patrol and now they are, "babysitters." The representative added, "Crossing the border illegally used to be a one-way ticket to jail, now it's a plane ticket to Florida, or some other state across the country."
Florida, although not bordering Mexico, has been one of the leading states in policing illegal immigration. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) deployed units to the border and even visited himself along with Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL).
