announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt good evening there is breaking news as we come on the air tonight. a federal judge has just blocked the biden administration s plans to lift covid-related restrictions at the southern u.s. border the trump-era rule known as title 42 was set to end on monday but will now remain in place. it allows border agents to expel migrants without a chance at asylum the case was brought by a large group of republican state attorneys general amid warnings lifting the rule would unleash even more people trying to enter the country. sam brock is along the border tonight with late details sam, what happens now? reporter: lester, good evening the dramatic ruling is a defeat for the biden administration just three days before they wanted to lift title 42 it means that a two-plus year freeze on asylum seekers continues. but the administration says it disagrees with the decision and plans to appeal as border crossings reach new heights
past 11 days in a row. american families forced to spend an average of $5,000 a year on gas compared to $2800 a year ago. interior secretary deb holland refusing to concede it is too big a burden to bear. americans are still recovering from this terrible pandemic and there are a lot of other world events that are making things difficult for all of us. so it sounds like you are unwilling to say that gas prices are too high. we re doing all we can, senator. dana: grady trimble is following the story from chicago. good morning. good morning. gas prices are expected to keep rising this summer so when interior secretary deb holland wouldn t acknowledge in that hearing that gas prices right now are too high, it certainly raised eyebrows. we re doing all we can, senator, production on federal lands is up. it s a 45% increase from 2020. that s new drilling. that s up. but the production is also up. it s at an all-time high. president biden is allowing drilling on federa
wrongdoing. his son, hunter biden, snubbing a subpoena to testify today behind closed doors saying he ll only do so publicly and stating his father has no financial ties to his business dealings. will the gop move to hold the other biden in contempt of congress? also tonight, president biden welcoming the families of all eight americans still being held hostage by hamas to the white house. what they said to him in their private meeting. the record day on wall street. big news from the fed on interest rates. the supreme court taking up a major case over the abortion pill that could restrict access nationwide. the massive recall impacting nearly every tesla on the road in the u.s. safety concerns over its autopilot feature. our nbc news exclusive with holiday shopping in full swing. inside the undercover operation to bust retail thieves. and he was the emmy-winning star of hit nbc shows. remembering andre braugher. announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester h
they re bound for honduras. since mid-may, the department of homeland security says it s repatriated 85,000 people. that s up 65% compared to the same period last year. the department is sending a clear message about the consequences of coming to the united states seeking asylum improperly. reporter: nbc news also getting rare access to this processing center in hidalgo, texas. thank you very much, mr. chair. reporter: this week homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas was grilled on capitol hill. you re the most dishonest witness. that has ever appeared before this committee. reporter: the administration touting a 42% drop in illegal crossings since the pandemic border restriction known as title 42 was lifted in may. our approach of expanding lawful pathways for people to reach the border and delivering consequences for those who arrive at our border irregularly is working. reporter: mayorkas says the process is more orderly, but the
and from shooting survivor to superstar inspirer, james harden in a story of brotherly love. announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. good evening and welcome. tens of thousands of migrants who have endured smugglers, heat, and dust storms and difficult terrain are gathered along the southern border of the united states right now, believing their journey to the u.s. is about to get easier. knowing that at midnight, the u.s. will lift a key border restriction that is limited migration in the name of public health. the law title 42 is a response to the covid emergency. it allowed the u.s. to turn away asylum seekers to curb the spread of the virus. that authority expiring tonight. in anticipation of the change, officials say for a second day in a row, illegal crossings have reached record numbers as the humanitarian crisis grows on the u.s. side