President Biden is planning to unveil an executive order that would allow him to shut down the US-Mexico border when the number of migrant crossings reaches a certain threshold, with a target of 2,500 per day. The order would also bar illegal border-crossers from claiming asylum during this period. The border would remain closed until the number of encounters declines to 1,500 per day. Despite the president’s previous denials of having the power to take executive action on the border, he is expected to sign the order at a White House ceremony with border city mayors present.
Mayor Rolando Salinas of Eagle Pass, Texas, a town that has been greatly affected by the migrant crisis, expressed disappointment at not being invited to the White House event despite his strong support for measures to limit illegal immigration. He believes that the executive order should have been implemented sooner, as his city was previously faced with thousands of migrants per day. In December 2023, law enforcement authorities encountered over 370,000 people attempting to cross the border, the highest monthly total on record, excluding those who evaded detection.
Border Patrol sources mentioned that they were unaware of the specifics of Biden’s planned executive order and had not been briefed on it. Critics, including Rep. Jim Banks and House Speaker Mike Johnson, argue that the order will not effectively address the ongoing influx of migrants. Banks believes that the order is a political stunt and will ultimately lead to more illegal crossings. Johnson accuses Biden of creating chaos at the border intentionally and using an executive order as a mere attempt to gain favor with voters ahead of a potential re-election campaign.
With daily migrant encounters surpassing the 2,500 limit, the border could potentially be closed immediately under the new restrictions. In April, US Customs and Border Protection encountered nearly 6,000 migrants per day. Since Biden took office in 2021, over 7 million migrants have been apprehended along the southern border by CBP agents, with more than 1.9 million in the current fiscal year alone. The border closure and associated restrictions are part of Biden’s efforts to address the ongoing crisis at the border, which has been a major issue throughout his presidency.
Critics argue that Biden’s executive order comes too late and that it will not effectively address the root causes of the border crisis. They believe that the president is merely trying to appear tough on immigration in response to declining poll numbers. The implementation of these new restrictions follows months of record-breaking migration numbers, with significant implications for border security and immigration enforcement. As the situation at the border continues to evolve, the effectiveness of Biden’s executive order remains to be seen in practical terms.
