In a continuation of a signature policy initiated by former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden’s administration has announced plans to add sections to the border wall in order to address the surging number of migrant crossings from Mexico. The move comes as Trump is seen as a frontrunner for the Republican Party nomination in the 2024 presidential race, with building border barriers being a prominent theme in his first campaign.
Biden, upon taking office in January 2021, had issued a proclamation vowing that no more taxpayer dollars would be allocated for border wall construction and ordered a review of existing commitments. However, the administration clarified that this latest action does not represent a shift in policy but rather a necessity to utilize funds allocated during Trump’s term in 2019, as mandated by the law.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reiterated the administration’s stance that a border wall is not a comprehensive solution to immigration issues and emphasized the obligation to follow existing legal requirements.
Trump, on the other hand, claimed victory and called for an apology, citing the effectiveness of walls in various historical contexts.
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressed his disapproval of the move as a step backward in bilateral relations.
The immigration issue is expected to be a significant theme in the upcoming U.S. presidential race, with a majority of Americans, according to a September Reuters/Ipsos poll, believing that immigration makes life more challenging for native-born citizens. Biden’s decision to proceed with border wall construction may invite criticism from his left-leaning base, including immigration advocates and environmentalists who oppose additional construction.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that it needed to waive several laws and regulations to build barriers in Starr County, Texas, where Border Patrol agents have encountered a substantial number of migrants entering the United States this fiscal year.
Environmentalists expressed concern about the impact on habitat in Starr County due to construction.
The White House, in response, highlighted its different approach to address the immigration system, focusing on increasing legal pathways for migrants and investing in border security technology.
The Biden administration has grappled with record migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border during Biden’s term, leading to operational and political challenges. Biden initially promised to reverse many of Trump’s immigration policies but retained the Title 42 public health order, allowing for the expulsion of migrants to Mexico without the chance to seek asylum. When Title 42 expired, a new rule was implemented, requiring migrants to make appointments via a government-run app before approaching legal ports of entry or facing tougher asylum restrictions if crossing the border illegally.
Migrant numbers initially decreased following the new rule’s announcement but have recently risen, partly due to an influx of migrants from Venezuela. In another significant enforcement action, the Biden administration announced the resumption of deportation flights to Venezuela, which had been suspended due to strained relations between the two countries.
The surge of migrants has strained U.S. cities along the border and beyond, with asylum seekers often released into the country to await immigration court hearings, a process that can take years.
Republican governors near the border have criticized Biden’s handling of the situation, busing arriving migrants to Democrat-controlled cities, causing criticism from Democratic leaders in those areas as well.
Biden’s efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform in Congress have faced opposition from Republicans, hampering progress on this front. It remains a complex and contentious issue in American politics.
Source: with agencies