Securitization of COVID-19: The Continuation of Border Restriction through U.S. Code of Title 42 under Biden Administration

Achtar Khalif Firdausy, Dr. Muhammad Rum, S.I.P., I.M.A.S.

2026 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

This thesis examines why the Biden administration continued the use of Title 42 despite campaign promises to reverse many of the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policies. Using the Copenhagen School’s securitization theory and a qualitative process-tracing methodology, the study argues that the persistence of Title 42 was driven by the successful securitization of the COVID 19 pandemic rather than by anti-immigration objectives. The research analyzes presidential speeches, executive actions, congressional debates, public opinion data, and policy documents to trace the causal mechanisms linking the framing of COVID-19 as an existential threat to the continuation of extraordinary border measures. The findings demonstrate that both the Trump and Biden administrations portrayed COVID-19 as a serious threat to public health and national stability, generating audience acceptance among policymakers and the public. This acceptance legitimized Title 42 as an emergency measure and made its repeal politically costly. The study concludes that securitization created a path dependency that delayed policy reversal until the perceived threat of COVID-19 significantly declined.

This thesis examines why the Biden administration continued the use of Title 42 despite campaign promises to reverse many of the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policies. Using the Copenhagen School’s securitization theory and a qualitative process-tracing methodology, the study argues that the persistence of Title 42 was driven by the successful securitization of the COVID 19 pandemic rather than by anti-immigration objectives. The research analyzes presidential speeches, executive actions, congressional debates, public opinion data, and policy documents to trace the causal mechanisms linking the framing of COVID-19 as an existential threat to the continuation of extraordinary border measures. The findings demonstrate that both the Trump and Biden administrations portrayed COVID-19 as a serious threat to public health and national stability, generating audience acceptance among policymakers and the public. This acceptance legitimized Title 42 as an emergency measure and made its repeal politically costly. The study concludes that securitization created a path dependency that delayed policy reversal until the perceived threat of COVID-19 significantly declined.

Kata Kunci : Securitization, COVID-19, Title 42, Biden Administration, Migration Policy, Copenhagen School.