President Biden has taken executive action to effectively close the U.S. southern border, citing congressional inaction on immigration reform and border security. Through a proclamation, Biden invoked his executive authority to expel migrants and suspend entry of noncitizens due to high border crossing levels, which he deemed a crisis.
This move, effective immediately, allows border agents to quickly return migrants to Mexico or their home countries, a decision that has drawn criticism from some Democrats who see it as reminiscent of Trump’s immigration policies.
Progressives Outraged by Biden’s Border Decision
Biden’s action is seen as a bid to address a politically vulnerable issue, as Trump has consistently led Biden in swing-state polls, and independents and moderate Democratic voters identify border issues as one of the president’s weaknesses, along with the economy. Trump has capitalized on this, mixing dire warnings about a crisis at the border with assertions about terrorism, crime, and drugs, all of which resonate with voters.
The American Civil Liberties Union plans to challenge the edict in court, arguing it is misguided and illegal. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt expressed hope that the administration would reconsider the decision, acknowledging that judicial challenges may not be successful.
If the crackdown proceeds, the border will shut down when daily illegal crossings average 2,500 over seven days, a threshold based on a stalled Senate border security deal. The border will reopen when crossings drop to 1,500 for seven days and remain at that level for two weeks.
Immigration advocates are divided on the issue, with some seeing it as a necessary first step toward reform and others predicting it will exacerbate the issue.
National Immigration Forum CEO Jennie Murray argued that capping asylum-seekers places a “Band-Aid” on the problem, while Laredo, Texas, Mayor Victor Treviño, who attended a White House meeting with Biden, saw the action as a helpful first step towards immigration reform.
As Biden travels to France to commemorate D-Day, his decision has sparked intense debate, highlighting the complications of the immigration issue.
