HELENA, Mont. – A federal judge today granted Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) that prevents the Biden administration from lifting the Title 42 border policy that allows border patrol officials to expel illegal migrants in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

In response to today’s decision by Judge Summerhays, Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt released the following statement:

“The federal judge’s decision to block the last buffer between Joe Biden and his open border pipedream was a tremendous win for Montanans,” Chairman Kaltschmidt said. “Thankfully in the face of a Presidential administration fixated on pushing an open-border agenda, we have leaders like Attorney General Knudsen, Governor Gianforte, Senator Daines, and Congressman Rosendale that are working to protect Montanans from the wave of drugs, crime, and chaos that comes along with the southern border being left wide open. It is absurd that President Biden is continuing to harass American citizens for not wearing a mask or being vaccinated, while simultaneously welcoming illegal immigrants into American communities without even being tested. It is time for Joe Biden to listen to the bipartisan majority of Congress, end this assault on border security, and begin working in the best interest of American families and communities.”

Title 42 was put in place during the height of the pandemic by President Trump in order to allow Border officials to swiftly remove illegal migrants attempting to cross the southern border illegally due to their high rate of Covid infection. After attempting to weaken our ability to protect our border by suspending deportations, telling ICE and border patrol to stand down, and refusing to finish the border wall, Joe Biden is attempting to get rid of Title 42 which is the last line of defense for border officials to get control of the crisis.

Due to Joe Biden’s open-border policies, Montana has seen a dramatic spike in illegal drugs such as fentanyl, meth, opioids, and heroin being smuggled from across the Southern border into Montana communities. The increase in drugs in Montana is also driving a significant increase in violent crime across the state.

Judge Summerhays’s decision will allow border officials to continue swiftly expelling illegal migrants and maintain some measure of control at the border.

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