Biden Faces Bipartisan Backlash Over New Executive Order on Migrants
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
President Joe Biden’s latest executive order, aimed at curbing record migrant arrivals at the US-Mexico border, has sparked criticism from both Republican rivals and some Democratic allies.
Effective from midnight, the order allows officials to swiftly remove migrants entering the US illegally without processing their asylum requests.
This policy has drawn concern from left-wing Democrats, activists, and the United Nations, while Republicans denounce it as an election-year ploy, arguing for tougher measures.
President Biden defended the executive order, accusing Republicans of obstructing a bipartisan border security deal in Congress earlier this year. “Doing nothing is not an option,” Biden stated, urging patience from his left-wing critics.
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the upcoming election, criticized Biden’s action on social media, claiming Biden had “surrendered our southern border” and was now “pretending to finally do something” about it. Texas Senator Ted Cruz echoed Trump’s sentiments.
In response, Biden accused the Trump camp of a “cynical political move” by pressuring Republican lawmakers to block the proposed border plan in Congress.
Speaking on Tuesday, Biden asserted that his executive order would “help us gain control of our border.”
Meanwhile, outside the US Capitol, advocates and Democratic lawmakers held a press conference condemning Biden’s decision.
Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, expressed profound disappointment, calling the order a “step in the wrong direction.”
Excel Magazine International observes that since Biden took office, over 6.4 million migrants have been stopped crossing into the US illegally.
Although arrival numbers have dropped this year, experts caution that the trend may not last.
The White House indicates the new order will be activated when daily crossings exceed 2,500 on a seven-day average, a threshold described as an “overwhelmed” border.
The border will reopen to asylum seekers when the average falls to 1,500 daily crossings for a week, with further openings for migrants two weeks later.
The order includes measures to expedite immigration cases in court and quick removals for those lacking legal grounds to stay in the US.
Excel Magazine gathered that asylum processing at ports of entry will continue, with about 1,500 asylum seekers processed daily, primarily via the CBP One app.
