President Joe Biden is expected to unveil a comprehensive new executive order as early as Tuesday to begin curbing immigration across the US-Mexico border, according to reports from CBS. The order in question would allow US law enforcement officials to halt processing asylum claims for immigrants entering the US illegally once daily quotas are met, expediting their deportation.
Additionally, the order would empower border officials to limit the number of immigrants arriving. Three anonymous sources disclosed this anticipated order to CBS. During Biden’s presidency, over 6.4 million immigrants have illegally entered the US, marking a historic high and putting him at a political disadvantage in his reelection bid.
Reports from CBS and other US news outlets indicate that President Biden is considering using a 1952 law to restrict the use of the US asylum system. This law, known as 212(f), permits the US president to “suspend” entry when the arrival of foreigners is deemed to “harm” national interests.
The Trump administration previously invoked this law to ban immigrants and travelers from several Muslim-majority countries and prevent immigrants crossing the border illegally from obtaining asylum, leading to accusations of racism from opponents.
Under this order, asylum processing at entry ports is expected to continue. Approximately 1,500 asylum seekers can go through official procedures at ports of entry each day, mostly after scheduling appointments via the CBP One application by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
A White House spokesperson criticized congressional Republicans for obstructing increased border enforcement, stating that President Biden will continue working to provide border security personnel with the necessary resources to ensure border safety. The spokesperson added that the government will explore a range of policy options to address the broken immigration system.
Republicans have criticized the Biden administration’s new border plan as a cunning move in an election year, arguing that laws to prevent illegal immigration in the US already exist, but the Democratic president has not adequately enforced these laws.
As news of Biden’s forthcoming new immigration order spreads, the number of immigrants detained at the US-Mexico border has begun to decrease. Recent statistics from the Customs and Border Protection revealed around 179,000 migrant “encounters” in April, a significant drop from the record high of 302,000 in December last year. Authorities from both the US and Mexico attribute this decline to increased enforcement efforts by Mexican authorities.
For President Biden, a reduction in border immigrant numbers would help alleviate the political crisis he faces. Polls show that immigration is a top concern for many voters in the upcoming November presidential election.
A Gallup poll at the end of April indicated that 27% of Americans view immigration as the most significant issue facing the US, surpassing economic and inflation concerns. Another survey conducted by the Associated Press and NORC Public Affairs Research Center in March found that two-thirds of Americans, including about 40% of Democratic voters, disapprove of Biden’s handling of border issues.
Texas, a conservative southern border state, has opposed the Biden administration’s relaxed approach to immigration control, engaging in a lengthy legal battle over illegal immigration. Since July last year, Texas has set up barriers such as buoys and barbed wire at the US-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigrant entry, leading to strong opposition from the Biden administration.
The Justice Department sued the state of Texas for setting up buoy barriers, accusing them of impacting US-Mexico relations and causing a humanitarian crisis. In turn, Texas sued the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that US Border Patrol’s actions of damaging the state’s barbed wire violated Texas law.
The legal dispute escalated to the Supreme Court. On January 22 this year, the Supreme Court issued a ruling favoring the Biden administration, temporarily allowing federal law enforcement to dismantle the barbed wire set up by Texas at the border during the litigation period. Texas Governor Abbott refused to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling, citing it as “ambiguous,” leading to an “armed standoff” with the federal government.
Prior to the November election, immigration remains a focal point of voter attention, with Republicans hoping to leverage this issue against Biden. Democrats, on the other hand, criticize Republicans for blocking a bipartisan border agreement in Congress under Trump’s direction, preventing the enactment of the strictest asylum legislation in years.