In an effort to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border, the White House announced executive actions to curb illegal immigration claiming asylum once crossings reach a certain threshold. President Biden’s proclamation will temporarily suspend the entry of non-citizens once the average daily border encounters exceed 2,500 for seven days. This will remain in effect until encounters drop below 1,500 over a seven-day average. The goal is to facilitate the quick removal of individuals who do not have a legal basis to stay in the U.S. The move comes amid high numbers of border encounters, with over 5,000 in the past week and a total of 179,725 encounters in April.
President Biden is utilizing the authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to suspend entry of certain categories of foreign nationals. The order includes exceptions for visa holders, unaccompanied children, victims of trafficking, and those facing medical emergencies or safety threats. It also exempts migrants using the CBP One app at ports of entry. The administration is also planning to issue a joint rule with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to restrict asylum eligibility during periods of high border crossings. These actions mark a significant shift from the administration’s previous rollback of Trump-era border protections.
The White House argues that this move is necessary due to a widespread challenge that requires congressional action to address the broken immigration system. The administration has emphasized the need for funding and support for border security personnel in addition to legislative reform. While some Republicans have called for executive actions to address the border crisis, others claim that the measures are too little, too late. Critics have pointed out that Biden has issued numerous executive orders since taking office, but they argue that his actions on border security have been lacking.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have criticized Biden’s handling of the border crisis, with some claiming that the executive actions are a cynical move ahead of the November election. The president’s approval ratings on border security have suffered, with a Fox News poll showing that seven in 10 voters believe the administration has mostly failed to improve border security. The move also comes amidst demands from mayors and House Democrats for additional federal funding and action to address security and immigration challenges at the southern border.
Overall, the Biden administration’s executive actions on the southern border aim to address the ongoing crisis and curb illegal immigration claiming asylum during periods of high border encounters. The measures, which suspend entry for certain categories of foreign nationals and restrict asylum eligibility during peak crossing times, represent a significant shift in the administration’s approach to border security. Despite criticisms from lawmakers and ongoing challenges at the border, the administration is positioning these actions as a necessary step to address the broken immigration system and provide support for border security personnel.
