Bishop Mark Seitz, the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, is urging Congress to reject the Secure the Border Act of 2023, also known as HR 2, which proposes measures to enhance border security, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). 

The U.S. House of Representatives is to vote on the bill on Thursday, May 11, the same day Title 42 is set to expire.

“If enacted, this measure would fundamentally weaken our nation’s decades-long commitment to humanitarian protection,” Seitz wrote. “Provisions of this bill would endanger unaccompanied children and inflict harm on other vulnerable persons, decimate access to asylum, mandate damaging detention and removal practices, restrict access to legal employment, limit — and potentially eliminate — federal partnerships with faith-based and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), undermine the rule of law and more.”

In his letter, Seitz expresses his desire for Congress to prioritize the creation of a bipartisan legislation that is more consistent with America's tradition of welcoming people, instead of passing HR 2.

"We do not question the good intentions of lawmakers who seek to enact legislation that would secure our nation’s borders," Seitz wrote. "Indeed, we join in the call to enact effective and humane border management as part of a framework of comprehensive immigration reforms. As stated previously, we also do not discount the challenges at our border with Mexico, nor the right of nations to maintain their borders."

The Biden-Harris administration also does not endorse the Secure the Border Act of 2023, as per an official statement. According to the statement, the bill's provisions are not in line with the U.S.'s values and obligations, while putting access to crucial humanitarian measures at risk. The statement also notes that if the bill were presented to President Joe Biden, he would veto it.