NEW YORK 

Texas Governor Greg Abbott urged the nation’s governors Tuesday to help secure its southern borders in the wake of the lifting of Title 42, a pandemic-era immigration policy that empowered the US to swiftly turn away migrants encountered at its border with Mexico. 

Title 42, which was enacted by former President Donald Trump in March 2020, expired on May 11.

In a letter sent to governors across the US, Abbott asked for support to respond to the ongoing border crisis through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which enables states to provide assistance and share resources with another state.

''The flood of illegal border activity invited by the Biden Administration flows directly across the southern border into Texas communities, but this crisis does not stop in our state,'' the letter said.

''In the federal government’s absence, we, as Governors, must band together to combat President (Joe) Biden’s ongoing border crisis and ensure the safety and security that all Americans deserve.''

''Texas should not have to shoulder the financial burden of protecting our nation alone,'' he said.

Since the expiration of Title 42, border patrol agents have seen a 50% drop in the number of migrants, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

The COVID-19 era policy has allowed the US to expel migrants nearly 2.7 million times from the southern border, government figures show.