President Biden is utilizing his executive power to address the immigration crisis despite knowing that the move will likely be met with legal challenges and limited success. This unilateral action is a politically calculated move to shore up his image on an issue where he trails behind his predecessor, Donald Trump.
The president’s advisors and donors have urged him to take executive action, even if it’s legally dubious, to demonstrate control over the situation. However, the order’s limitations and potential invalidation by courts render it largely symbolic.
Trump and Joe Biden
The Biden administration is aware of the order’s limitations and has simultaneously teed up a Senate vote on a bipartisan immigration bill. This move aims to show the president acting decisively, despite Trump’s obstruction of previous bipartisan efforts. The true purpose of the executive action is political, rather than a genuine solution to the immigration crisis.
This phenomenon is not unique to the Biden administration. Presidents often resort to symbolic gestures, commissions, and orders that lack real substance or implementation. These moves prioritize appearance over actual progress, catering to political interests rather than the greater good.
The dangers of unilateral executive actions lie in their potential to prioritize political gain over effective governance, tying up resources and acclimating the public to rule by executive order. Our political system incentivizes such behavior, perpetuating the gap between genuine accomplishments and perceived ones. Until this gap is bridged, presidents will continue to prioritize appearance over substance, putting on a show for political gain.
