WH: ‘If Republicans Are Serious’ About the Border, They Will Provide $3 Billion for Border Funding

(CNSNews.com) – White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that if Republicans are serious about preparing for the lifting of Title 42, they will pass the bill that the White House put forward that provides $3 billion for border funding.

She said the money will go towards integration of surveillance towers, inspection of “Border Patrol rotary wing aircraft and helicopter aircraft sensor upgrades, tactical marine time surveillance system, and also law enforcement radios, faster asylum claim processing,” among other things.

“I have two follow-ups on Title 42. I know you said you guys were hopeful that the omnibus gets passed, but what kind of preparations are being done in case it doesn’t and communities do get overwhelmed and need some resources? And also, does the administration fear that the end of Title 42 will lead to a spike in COVID cases in the country?” a reporter asked.

“So let me just talk a little bit about the three — there’s $3 billion for border funding. So a couple of things. You know, again, if Republicans are serious about this, we put forward some $3 billion plan that we are asking for Congress to support,” Jean-Pierre said.

“Here’s what it would do: It would ensure that the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security have the resources they need to secure our border and build a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system,” the press secretary said.

“The funding will integrate surveillance towers, inspect technology, Border Patrol rotor — rotary wing aircraft and helicopter aircraft sensor upgrades, tactical marine time surveillance system, and also law enforcement radios, faster asylum claim processing, and so much more,” she said.

“So we believe it’s incredibly important to get that done as well, but to your question about the — the winter surge, how we’re — how Dr. Jha was talking about this from the podium: Look, because of the president’s — the president’s work and what he’s been able to do throughout his administration, the American people have tools — we know what works — and to protect — to protect themselves from COVID, and we continue to encourage them to use the tools as we always have,” Jean-Pierre said.

“Now, on Title 42, we’ve inquired — we are required by the court to lift Title 42, and we plan to comply with that order, and so — but Title 42 or not, every individual encountered at the border is screened and processed by Border Patrol agents before they are placed in removal proceedings, and like I’ve said a couple of times already, you know, the Department of Health — Homeland Security has been on — has been on top of this,” she said.

“We are prepared. We are ready to do this in a humane way and in a safe way, and so it is something that the President has been working on since day one of his administration,” the press secretary added.

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