Staff Reports
Joe Biden has decided to tighten the reins on asylum claims, apparently attempting to show Americans that he is still trying to control illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. This announcement followed a previous order meant to stem the tide of illegal immigration, a move likely prompted by a series of unflattering poll numbers that indicated voters were less than thrilled with Biden’s immigration policies. Apparently, the president believes that tightening the thumbscrews on asylum applications will somehow provide a solution to a crisis his administration has struggled to manage.
Back in June, the Biden administration launched a proclamation that was supposed to tackle the shocking daily average of unlawful border crossings—over 2,500 a day, for crying out loud. The initial decree aimed to limit the influx of foreign nationals crossing the southern border, putting in place a suspension until daily encounters dipped below 1,500 for a week. As if that wasn’t confusing enough, Biden now extends the threshold for lifting the restrictions, making sure that it will only disappear when daily averages have consistently stayed under 1,500 for a whopping 28 days. If the goal was to really put the brakes on things, making it harder to deactivate this order is a curious strategy.
The BidenHarris administration announced they will further tighten his executive order on the number of asylum claims along the southern border. The original EO was 2,500 a day for a week. Now, it will be 1,500 for 28 days. Elections get things done!https://t.co/HKBu6ymnwZ
— Robbie Mouton (@mcgmouton57) September 30, 2024
Data from Customs and Border Protection suggests that these new guidelines are having some effect, claiming a reduction in illegal crossings by more than 50%. Unfortunately for the Biden administration, any relief they may feel is overshadowed by the reality that they are cleaning up a massive mess they helped create in the first place. It’s like trying to varnish a rotting piece of furniture; it may look better for a moment, but underneath it all, the wood is still decaying.
On the campaign trail, Vice President Kamala Harris has also ventured to the border, promising to get tough on those daring to cross illegally. Her newfound tough-love approach seems suspiciously timed with her presidential aspirations, as now she insists that only those making asylum requests at legal points of entry will be considered for asylum. This may sound reasonable, but her remarks come on the heels of an administration that has welcomed millions of unlawful entrants with open arms—now it’s trying this “orderly and secure” approach as if it’s a revolutionary concept.
As the Biden-Harris administration contends with an unprecedented number of crossings—over seven million, according to CBS data—it becomes painfully clear that they are grasping at straws. It’s reminiscent of a student attempting to convince the teacher they studied for a test by throwing random facts on the board while knowing full well they’ve crammed in a last-minute panic. It’s all shown with little substance, leaving many to wonder what happened to any semblance of a coherent border policy. The only real question is how long before the American people demand a policy that actually sticks rather than the current hodgepodge of declarations and spin.
