President Joe Biden has issued a sweeping executive order aimed at curbing record migrant arrivals at the US-Mexico border, a move designed to address political vulnerabilities in an election year.
The order, effective from midnight, allows officials to swiftly remove migrants entering the US illegally without processing their asylum requests once a daily threshold is met and the border is “overwhelmed,” according to a White House statement.
Rival Republicans argue that the measures do not go far enough, while some Democratic allies and the United Nations have expressed concern. A UN refugee agency spokeswoman emphasized that those fearing persecution should have access to safe territory.
At an event with several border town mayors, Biden stated, “This action will help us gain control of our border,” and criticized Republicans for not passing bipartisan immigration reform earlier this year. He urged progressive critics to “be patient,” acknowledging that “doing nothing is not an option.”
The order also aims to expedite cases and reduce pressure on US immigration courts but has faced criticism from activists. Jennie Murray, president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, lamented that “politics are driving the immigration conversation in an increasingly restrictive direction.”
During Biden’s administration, more than 6.4 million migrants have been stopped crossing into the US illegally. Although arrival numbers have dropped this year, experts doubt this trend will continue.
Mexican media portray the move as one of Biden’s toughest policies, though President Andrés Manuel López Obrador downplayed the issue, citing the impossibility of a border closure due to economic and cultural exchange.
Authorities in Tijuana expressed concerns about overcrowded shelters and potential street homelessness for asylum seekers denied entry to the US. Local officials warned, “We’d start seeing people on the streets, sleeping in tents.”
About a dozen advocates and Democratic lawmakers, including Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, held a press conference outside the US Capitol, criticizing Biden’s decision. Jayapal called the executive action a “step in the wrong direction.”
Conversely, some Democrats like Arizona Congressman Ruben Gallego acknowledged the order but emphasized “more work to do.”
Donald Trump’s campaign criticized the order as “for amnesty, not border security.” The White House stated that the new order “will be in effect when high levels of encounters at the southern border exceed our ability to deliver timely consequences, as is the case today.”
Among the actions announced is the use of a 1952 law, known as 212(f), allowing a US president to “suspend the entry” of foreigners if their arrival is “detrimental to the interests” of the country. This law was previously used by the Trump administration to ban immigration and travel from several predominantly Muslim countries and to bar migrants from asylum if apprehended crossing the US border illegally, which led to accusations of racism.
Ms. Murray expressed concern about the use of 212(f) authority, noting the need for the US to better address border challenges.
4o