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5 months ago
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President Joe Biden is considering taking a page from Donald Trump's book by taking executive action by the end of April to dramatically limit how many asylum seekers can cross the southern border.
The action would see Biden finally addressing the border and would attempt to send a massive message ahead of November's election that he takes illegal immigration seriously after years of criticism for largely ignoring the migration crisis.
Under Biden's leadership, the U.S. has experienced all-time-high levels of illegal immigration crossing into the country by way of the southern border with Mexico.
Currently, the White House is exploring whether the president can restrict immigrants claiming asylum at the southern border without first gaining congressional approval.
'We're examining whether or not I have that power,' Biden told Univision's Enrique Acevedo in an interview taped last week that aired on Tuesday.
President Joe Biden revealed in an interview with Univision aired on Tuesday that is eyeing executive order to restrict the number of migrants who can claim asylum at the southern border as a way to quell the massive surges ahead of November's election
Migration has hit all-time-highs during Biden's time in office. Pictured: Migrants camp out on the Mexico side of the border with El Paso, Texas
'Some are suggesting that I should just go ahead and try it,' the president said when speaking with the Spanish-language broadcaster. 'And if I get shut down by the court, I get shut down by the court.'
Hundreds of thousands of migrants cross every month at the southern border and states bordering Mexico are struggling to address the crisis without federal-level action.
Indicative of how big the southern border issues is to Americans – and specifically Republicans – the House passed impeachment articles against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and they are going to the Senate on Wednesday, where the Biden official will likely be acquitted.
The Biden administration has implemented programs that allow other ways for migrants to gain access into the country without documentation or legal status other than through just the southern border.
For example, the Cuba, Haiti, Niicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) parole program allows for 30,000 asylum-seekers each month from these four countries to apply to be flown into U.S. airports and released into the country without legal status for a two-year grace period.
Migrants set up camps to rest after arriving in the Rio Grande in Juarez, Mexico on April 9 and being prevented by Texas enforcement from crossing the border into the U.S. to claim asylum
Biden told Univision host Enrique Acevedo, 'Some are suggesting that I should just go ahead and try it' and said he could use the courts, if needed, to shut down the border
Widespread criticism ensued for the program after it was revealed that more than 320,000 undocumented migrants were flown into the U.S. from January 2023 through February 2024. An analysis from the Center for Immigration Studies found that the vast majority of these foreigners were flown into Miami, Florida.
While Biden says he will lean in on the plan to restrict migration at the border, he acknowledges that there is 'no guarantee' that he has the power to take this unilateral action at the border without congressional legislation first hitting his desk.
The order could come by the end of the month, according to Axios.
Despite internal debate over politics and legality of the move, Biden wanted to take a dramatic step after he was briefed on rising voter anger over the crisis at the southern border.
Migrants gather to enter the U.S. through razor wire fencing between Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and El Paso, Texas
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law allowing his officials to arrest, detain and deport migrants, which has slowed fluxes at certain crossings where law enforcement prevents migrants from illegally coming into the country. Pictured: Groups of migrants set up camp in the Rio Grande on April 9, 2024
Some close to the president told Axios they are worried shutting down the border in any way would create optics of a Trump-like move.
Biden is eyeing using authority granted in Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which provides presidents leeway in blocking entry of certain immigrants if it would be 'detrimental' to national interests.
Former President Trump repeatedly leaned on that section of the law to shut-out certain immigrants crossing illegally and seeking asylum at the southern border.
Presidents using section 212(f) to restrict migration does not require congressional approval.
Biden is considering using an Immigration and Nationality Act clause providing presidential authority to block immigrant entry if it would be 'detrimental' to national interests, which Trump often used. Pictured: A 3,000-person migrant caravan walks to Mexico city on March 25, 2024 to try and enter the U.S.
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