McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos is weighing in on the expected increase of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border when Title 42 officially ends May 23. 

The policy allowed immigration authorities to turn away asylum seekers because of COVID-19 concerns.

RELATED: COVID-19 asylum limits at US-Mexico border to end May 23  

More than 1.7 million people were sent back to their country over the last two years.

The Department of Homeland Security says it is preparing for up to 18,000 people to cross the border illegally daily.

READ ALSO: Border city preparing for end of title 42  

"We keep on saying immigration is not a local issue, it is not an issue that we here in McAllen should be dealing with. Immigration is a federal issue, a federal issue that has been dropped on our lap," Villalobos, a Republican, said in a recorded message.  

Watch Villalobos' entire message here. 

Missouri, Arizona, and Louisiana are taking legal action against the Biden administration's move to end Title 42.