President Biden is anticipated to sign an executive order allowing him to temporarily close the U.S.-Mexico border to migrants during surges in crossings. This move would suspend longstanding protections for asylum seekers in the United States.
The order is expected to be signed alongside mayors from South Texas and would be the most restrictive border policy put in place by Mr. Biden or any modern Democrat. It mirrors a 2018 effort by President Donald J. Trump to block migration, which was criticized by Democrats and halted by federal courts. This executive action would allow border officials to block migrants from claiming asylum and swiftly turn them away once border crossings surpass a certain threshold.
Mr. Biden is under significant political pressure to address illegal migration, an issue of high concern for voters in the upcoming presidential election. The decision reflects the rightward shift in immigration politics during Mr. Biden’s presidency, with growing support even within the president’s party for border measures that were once denounced by Democrats and championed by Mr. Trump. Border officials have been considering allowing Mr. Biden to close the border if there were an average of 5,000 crossings in a week or 8,500 in a single day.
On Sunday, border agents made more than 3,500 apprehensions of migrants crossing the border without authorization, in line with recent trends. This executive order is anticipated to resemble a provision in a failed bipartisan bill from earlier this year, which would have allocated significant funding for border security, including the hiring of thousands of asylum officers to process claims. Administration officials have indicated that executive action is not their preferred route, given the likelihood of legal challenges.
However, they believe it can provide Democrats with a strong position when arguing to voters that they have sought solutions at the border while Republicans have focused on using it as a political issue. Mr. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, has emphasized the need for legislation to address the immigration system, citing more certainty in delivering a solution. He acknowledged that any executive action would face legal challenges and expressed confidence in the legislative process.
The shift in political landscape on this issue is evident, with Mr. Biden, as a candidate in 2019, criticizing Mr. Trump’s policies regarding asylum seekers.
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