Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended President Joe Biden’s new executive action restricting asylum, emphasizing the positive signs in implementing the policy. The executive action bars migrants crossing the border illegally from seeking asylum once a daily threshold is met, a drastic shift in border policy that has faced criticism from both Republicans and progressive Democrats. Mayorkas believes the new restrictions on asylum will deter people from trying to cross the border and encourage them to use legal pathways instead.
Despite the high number of encounters between ports of entry, it is too early to determine the impact of the new policy. Mayorkas highlighted that the administration’s goal is to change the risk calculus for individuals before they leave their countries of origin and steer them away from exploitative smugglers. The new policy would have been necessary over the past three years due to a surge in migrant encounters, and Mayorkas called on Congress to take additional legislative action to support the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies involved in immigration management.
Criticism from politicians like Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has centered around the perception that Biden is not effectively securing the border with the new asylum restrictions. The divide among Democrats on the issue was further highlighted, with some progressives expressing concern and calling for a reversal of the executive action. Despite this, Democratic Senator Chris Coons defended the administration’s approach, comparing it to former President Trump’s more extreme policies such as family separations and Muslim bans.
Mayorkas reiterated the need for legislative action from Congress to provide additional resources and support for border security measures. He pointed out that Congress’s failure to pass a bipartisan immigration deal earlier this year led to the implementation of the new policy as an alternative. The administration is also facing potential legal challenges related to the new executive action, with the ACLU indicating its intention to sue over the policy. Despite this, Mayorkas emphasized the humanitarian aspect of the policy in preventing vulnerable individuals from falling into the hands of exploitative smugglers.
In an effort to improve his standing with Latino voters, Biden is reportedly planning another immigration move that would provide legal status for long-term undocumented immigrants married to American citizens. The ongoing political debate surrounding immigration policies highlights the challenges faced by the administration in finding a balance between border security and humanitarian concerns. The effectiveness of the new asylum restrictions and potential legal battles will likely continue to shape the administration’s approach to immigration policy in the months leading up to the November election.
