President Joe Biden has made bold statements in recent days about the potential closure of the U.S.-Mexico border as he seeks to salvage a border deal in Congress, a deal that is crucial for unlocking funds earmarked for Ukraine.
The bipartisan agreement, which had been in the works for months and appeared close to fruition in the Senate, faced setbacks primarily due to opposition from Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.
Biden emphasized the importance of a bipartisan bill to address the broken immigration system and enable swift access for deserving individuals, stating, “It’ll also give me as president the emergency authority to shut down the border until it could get back under control. If that bill were the law today, I’d shut down the border right now and fix it quickly.”
Here’s a closer look at what Biden’s statements mean and the political and policy considerations at play:
Key Points:
1. Motivation Behind Tough Talk:
- Biden’s push for continued funding for Ukraine in response to Russia’s invasion is a central driving force.
- Senate Republicans had tied further financial support for Kyiv to a border management deal.
2. Political Maneuvering:
- As talks progressed, Biden embraced the idea of a bipartisan border security deal to break the gridlock on immigration reform.
- His declaration of an immediate border shutdown is seen more as a political move than a policy stance, aiming to deflect criticism of his handling of immigration issues.
3. Deal Details:
- The proposed deal does not entail a complete shutdown of the border.
- Trade would continue, and citizens/legal residents could still travel.
- The deal includes an expulsion authority triggered when illegal crossings exceed 5,000 over a five-day average. This would halt asylum screenings for those crossing illegally.
- Migrants could still apply at ports of entry until crossings drop below 3,750 per day, though final numbers are yet to be determined.
4. Asylum Process Changes:
- Efforts are underway to expedite asylum case resolutions, aiming to reduce the current years-long processing time to six months.
- The revised process would also raise standards for asylum eligibility to address concerns of potential abuse of the current broad criteria.
Biden’s statements underscore the complex interplay of immigration policies, border security, and geopolitical considerations as he navigates the challenges of securing funding for Ukraine and managing domestic concerns leading up to the presidential election.
