KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City residents told Fox News they were sympathetic to President Biden’s effort to end Title 42, a border policy enacted to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"I will support Biden's choice," Lauren, a local dental student, said.
"I think there has to be a good reason for someone to leave their own country," she added. "And if that's a reason to make that effort, it must be a valid thing and something must be pretty bad in their own country."
The Biden administration planned to end Title 42 – a Trump-era policy used to deport more than 1.8 million illegal immigrants – on May 23. A Louisiana federal district court judge blocked the move until the president can reach an agreement with Republican border states.
BIDEN ADMIN TO COMPLY WITH COURT ORDER BLOCKING REMOVAL OF TITLE 42 BORDER RESTRICTIONS
Kaleena, a local ballerina
"I think immigration is a hard topic because I think it's difficult right now to become legally a U.S. citizen," Emma, a software developer, told Fox News. "I think people should be treated humanely."
"I think people should come here legally," she added. But she was not sure whether the existing immigration system adequately served the needs of migrants.
According to a recent poll from Politico and Morning Consult, 54% of registered voters opposed Biden’s plan to revoke Title 42, compared to 35% who supported the decision.
FILE PHOTO: Migrants take shelter along the Del Rio International Bridge at sunset as they await to be processed after crossing the Rio Grande river into the U.S. from Ciudad Acuna in Del Rio, Texas, U.S. September 19, 2021. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo ___ Democratic presidential nominee and former US Vice President Joe Biden speaks before introducing his vice presidential running mate, US Senator Kamala Harris, during their first press conference together in Wilmington, Delaware, on August 12, 2020. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images) (REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo | Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
"I think immigration is important for the progress of our country," Kaleena, a professional ballet dancer who supported Biden's effort, told Fox News.
Sun-Ghee, another dental student, said she supported Biden’s decision because it sets a favorable precedent in case Americans ever need to flee the U.S.
"What if one day we also are in some kind of situation where we wanted to cross the border?" she said.
Local dental students supported President Biden's desire to revoke Title 42
Clara, a product manager at an advertising agency hopes government officials will find a middle ground to immigration policy.
"I would say try to regulate some of that stuff, but don’t immediately kick [migrants] out," she said.
