Sen. Cruz on ‘America’s Newsroom’: The Biden Administration Would be ‘Putting Politics Ahead of Public Safety and Public Health’ by Not Enforcing Title 42 Expulsions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today joined Fox News' ‘America's Newsroom' to discuss the ongoing protests in Cuba and his new bill to codify President Trump's previous public health order under Title 42, which authorizes prompt expulsion of illegal immigrants to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Highlights of his interview are below.

WATCH: Sen. Cruz on America's Newsroom: Biden ‘Putting Politics Ahead of Public Safety and Public Health'

On his support for protesters in Cuba, Sen. Cruz said:

"Right now, the Cuban thugs are arresting protestors and throwing them in jail and clubbing them and beating them. This is not new. For decades the Communist dictatorship in Cuba has committed murder, torture, and incredible atrocities. As you know, for me it isn't just a theoretical matter. My father was imprisoned. My aunt was imprisoned and tortured by Castro. My family, like so many millions of other Cuban families, has seen the brutal oppression of Communism firsthand. I have to say watching these images and watching Cuban people in the streets risking their lives - when you stand up and protest. It is one thing to wave a flag here in the U.S. where you aren't risking your life. They are risking imprisonment and death.

"The American people stand with the people of Cuba, and I have to say the Biden administration has been terrible on this. They put out a statement saying, ‘This shows their right to peaceful assembly.' No, it shows a Communist dictatorship trying to silence their speech. The Biden administration claims the protests are about Covid. They want more Covid shots. No, these protests-they are yelling freedom in the streets. They are yelling, ‘Down with the dictatorship' and waving American flags. What a beautiful symbol of freedom the American flag is across the globe. And yet, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris can't seem to figure out why that freedom is important and why those people are standing up and risking their lives."

On his introduction of the SHIELD Act to preserve Title 42 expulsions of illegal immigrants, Sen. Cruz said:

"We're hearing concerning reports that the Biden administration intends to end enforcement under Title 42. That's the legal authority that allows you with illegal immigrants when they come to expel them quickly because of the pandemic, and the Biden administration is making noise; they want to end that. I have introduced legislation this week to maintain the protections of title 42. There is still a global pandemic. Many Americans have gotten vaccinated. I've gotten vaccinated-a lot of people coming here illegally haven't. As we see new variants of the disease - we have seen the disaster of Joe Biden's open border policy putting a huge cost on my home state of Texas, and now these guys want to make it worse and release essentially everybody who comes. Title 42 has been having an effect with regards to single young men who may be Covid-positive, and if the Biden administration releases them as well, it would be putting politics ahead of public safety and public health. I think it would be a serious mistake."

Read notable coverage of Sen. Cruz's SHIELD Act below.

Fox News: Sen. Cruz seeks to maintain Title 42 border expulsions through bill
"Sen. Ted Cruz and several other prominent GOP senators introduced legislation Tuesday to codify a Trump-era provision that allows border officials to rapidly expel migrants who illegally cross the border. Dubbed the ‘Securing the Homeland from International Entrants with Life-threatening Diseases,' or SHIELD Act, the bill would extend Title 42 public health protections first enacted in March 2020. The provision allows authorities to turn away migrants in the interest of public health due to the potential spread of COVID-19. ‘Title 42 has been an integral and extremely successful measure to protect America's borders and our people during the COVID-19 pandemic,' Cruz said. ‘If the Biden-Harris policy for open borders is intended to reverse the Trump Administration's success in securing our border, encourage illegal immigration, and create an unprecedented crisis, it's certainly working.' The Biden administration is considering a phase-out of the Trump-era policy, which critics have argued is cruel and inhumane. The White House could end use of Title 42 expulsions by as soon as July 31, Axios reported last month."

The New York Post: Ted Cruz bill would extend public health order at the border
"Sen. Ted Cruz is leading a charge in the Senate to maintain a Trump-era policy that allowed for the swift expulsion of illegal immigrants at the border based on the potential threat to public health due to coronavirus, as new strains emerge. In March 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the Title 42 expulsion order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 across the southern border, which the Biden administration has been reportedly considering ending. The SHIELD act, which stands for ‘Securing the Homeland from International Entrants with Life-threatening Diseases,' would make permanent the ability of authorities to immediately turn away people attempting to enter the country and potentially spread the coronavirus. Cruz (R-Texas) said, ‘Title 42 has been an integral and extremely successful measure to protect America's borders and our people during the COVID-19 pandemic [...].'"

Newsmax: GOP Senators Introduce Bill to Extend Title 42 Border Expulsions
"Sen. Ted Cruz and several other prominent Republican senators planned to introduce a bill Tuesday that would extend a health safety policy allowing border patrol agents to expel migrants due to COVID-19. The ‘Securing the Homeland from International Entrants with Life-threatening Diseases Act,' or SHIELD Act, would extend Title 42 public health protections first enacted under former President Donald Trump in March 2020. The Biden administration, encouraged by critics who say Title 42 is inhumane, has considered ending the policy - something Axios reported could happen by July 31. White House officials told Axios that not enforcing Title 42 for families could lead to more migrants coming to the southern border, and could intensify pressure to end the policy for single adults. ‘Title 42 has been an integral and extremely successful measure to protect America's borders and our people during the COVID-19 pandemic,' said Cruz, a Texas Republican, according to Fox News."

Western Journal: Ted Cruz Moves to Thwart Biden Admin Plan by Introducing the SHIELD Act
"Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and other Republican senators introduced a bill on Tuesday to extend Title 42, a provision that allows the U.S. to turn away illegal immigrants at the nation's southern border due to the risk of their spreading COVID-19. The Securing the Homeland from International Entrants with Life-threatening Diseases, or SHIELD, Act would continue the public health protections enacted in March 2020, according to Fox News. During an interview with the outlet on Tuesday morning, Cruz said, ‘Title 42 has been an integral and extremely successful measure to protect America's borders and our people during the COVID-19 pandemic.'"

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