Why it matters: The government’s plans to end the Trump-era immigration ban for COVID-19 by May 23 were immediately met with strong criticism from lawmakers in both parties. They fear that the announcement will trigger an event of mass immigration.

Vulnerable Democrats are also worried it will create a political storm and provide Republicans with new ammunition a few months before the midterm elections.

Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Who co-authored the proposal with Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Told Axios that she met with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last week and again this morning. Wednesday.

“Obviously the current preparations and plans for the end of Title 42 are not enough,” he said. “It seems very unlikely to be adequate until May 23, due to poor curation,” Cinema said. A White House official told Axios: “On the first day of the presidency, he sent an immigration bill to Congress that invests in smart solutions, effectively manages borders and tackles the root causes of immigration. Those who are worried [the U.S.] immigration system that [are] The suspension of funding for COVID will have to pass. “

News Guide: The “Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022” will be introduced by Cinema and Lankford – chairman and senior member of the Senate Border Management Subcommittee, respectively – at the Senate floor on Thursday.

His Democratic co-chairs: Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and New Hampshire Maggie Hassan – both face tough re-election battles in November. Other signatories include Senator Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). His Republican backers: Senate minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Rob Portman of Ohio – not to mention re-elected.

Details: The bill urges the Biden government to delay the expiration of Title 42 to 60 days after the General Surgeon submits a written notice to Congress to formally remove the COVID-19 public health emergency and the national emergency.

Trump-era public health restrictions have curtailed immigration based on coronavirus concerns. The bill states that during this 60-day window, and no later than 30 days after the written notice is given, the Biden government must submit a plan to Congress to address any possible influx of immigrants.

What they say: “It just does not seem at all feasible that this, that whatever plan they are working on at the moment can be ready to be implemented in a way that is safe for our border communities and respects the humanitarian crisis that is coming,” he said. Cinema in Axios.

“I think he has a chance to pass, but it will depend on who wins Biden’s half,” Lankford said. “Is it the Biden government’s open frontier department? Or is it the Biden government department that says, ‘This gives us a good excuse to say that these idiots in Congress forced us to do this… and this becomes an excuse to do not cause this kind of chaos at the borders “.

What follows: The bipartisan group introduces it as a bill so that lawmakers can see the text of what they are proposing, but does not intend to vote autonomously on the bill.

The plan is to include it as part of a broader amendment that will be attached to the $ 10 billion Senate funding bill for COVID-19, Lankford said, arguing the measure is “COVID-19 policy.” “At the same time the government is asking for $ 10 billion because COVID is a risk, they say it is not a border risk and we have to open the border,” Lankford told Axios. “Either it is a risk or it is not a risk.”

Read the bill: Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a White House comment.