Biden Administration Faces Pressure on Immigration Amid Crucial Election Year
President Biden and his aides describe this year’s election as crucial—existential, even—due to Donald Trump’s perceived hostility to democracy. Many outside experts agree with this assessment.
However, despite the election’s high stakes, the Biden administration has been notably slow in addressing one of its biggest political vulnerabilities: immigration. Polls show that immigration is a top concern for voters, often trailing only the economy. Most voters are dissatisfied with Biden’s handling of the issue and express greater trust in Trump’s approach. Even Democratic mayors and governors have criticized Biden for the surge in migration under his watch.
Slow Response and New Actions
Despite these concerns, the White House has been reluctant to act aggressively on immigration for much of Biden’s presidency. Only in the past six months has the administration begun to take more decisive actions. Officials are now preparing executive actions to tighten border security, with Biden likely to sign them next month, according to reports.
Biden’s Initial Policies
Biden campaigned in 2020 on promises to reverse Trump’s harsh immigration policies and to welcome more migrants. After taking office, he signed executive orders to pause deportations, broaden the definition of asylum, and use immigration parole to admit hundreds of thousands of people. These changes signaled to would-be migrants and Mexican cartels that entering the U.S. had become easier, leading to a surge in attempts to cross the border.
Legislative Efforts and Obstacles
Late last year, the White House worked with a bipartisan group of senators to tighten border security through policies favored by Republicans. However, Trump, recognizing the political benefit this could offer Biden, persuaded Republicans to block the plan. This bill, which came nearly three years into Biden’s presidency, would have expanded border patrols, increased the number of immigration judges, and made the asylum system both tougher and fairer.
Modest Measures and Recent Decline
Although Biden has taken some steps to curb migration, such as collaborating with the Mexican government to reduce the flow of migrants, these measures have been relatively modest. The recent decline in border crossings reflects these efforts, but Biden could have implemented stronger measures earlier. Potential actions include working with Congress sooner, reversing the parole expansion, tightening asylum rules, and issuing executive orders to close the border when crossings exceed certain levels.
Political and Social Implications
The recent immigration surge has strained budgets and created turmoil along the border and in cities like Chicago, Denver, and New York. It has also been politically damaging, providing fodder for Trump’s campaign. The surge has resulted in immigration levels higher than federal law stipulates and higher than what most Americans support.
Conclusion
As the Biden administration prepares to take more decisive action on immigration, the delay in addressing this issue has already had significant political and social consequences. The forthcoming executive actions will be crucial in shaping both the immigration landscape and the political environment leading up to the election.