President Biden announced an executive order on Tuesday aimed at addressing the influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border. The order stipulates that the border will be shut down if illegal crossings exceed 2,500 per day for seven consecutive days. Despite this “crackdown,” the policy will still allow at least 1.8 million asylum seekers into the United States annually if fully enforced.
The executive order, effective immediately, restricts additional illegal immigrants from applying for asylum during high traffic periods. These restrictions will be lifted if daily crossings average 1,500 per day for seven days, administration officials stated. Even if migration is limited to 2,500 per day throughout the year, the number of crossings would still reach 912,500.
Additionally, since January 2023, hundreds of thousands more migrants have been allowed into the US using the CBP One app, with 529,250 migrants set to gain admission by the end of this month. This app-based program, announced by Biden, facilitates appointments for migrants to enter the country legally.
Furthermore, Biden’s administration has allowed approximately 360,000 more migrants annually through a parole scheme targeting Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. This brings the total annual border crossings to around 1.8 million, a number which would be the fifth-highest on record. This figure does not account for the estimated 1.7 million “gotaways” who have evaded detection since Biden took office.
The highest number of immigration stops was recorded in fiscal year 2023, with over 3.2 million people stopped. This trend represents a significant increase compared to the numbers under the Trump administration, which saw a peak of 1.1 million encounters in 2019 and 646,822 in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a speech, President Biden attributed the border crisis to a “worldwide migrant crisis” and criticized Republican obstruction. He emphasized the need for border security to prevent unlimited migration, mirroring rhetoric commonly used by conservative politicians. Biden did not take questions during the announcement, which comes five months before the November 5th election.
Critics, including former acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan, argue that the new order does not adequately address the issue of catch and release or enhance immigration enforcement by ICE. Concerns have also been raised about potential loopholes that could be exploited by cartels and the continued flow of unaccompanied minors.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans have dismissed the order as an election-year maneuver, accusing the Biden administration of intentionally engineering an open border. They argue that previous executive actions, including the termination of the “Remain in Mexico” policy and the halt in border wall construction, have exacerbated the crisis.
Democrats like Rep. Tom Suozzi support the president’s actions but call for more comprehensive immigration reform from Congress. They highlight the challenges posed by Mexican cartels exploiting current immigration laws and stress the need for bipartisan solutions.
The executive order includes several exceptions, such as those for unaccompanied children, trafficking victims, individuals facing medical emergencies, and those with valid visas. Critics argue that these exceptions will not significantly change the current situation at the border.
Since taking office in January 2021, Biden has faced increasing pressure to address the surge in illegal immigration. Over 9 million migrants have been recorded entering the US illegally, with about 1.7 million evading capture. Federal authorities continue to apprehend an average of 5,990 migrants per day, a figure not including the known “gotaways.”
As the 2024 elections approach, border security remains a top concern for voters, with Biden trailing behind former President Trump in polls. The effectiveness of Biden’s new border policy and its impact on the ongoing migrant crisis will likely be critical issues in the upcoming election.
