The Biden administration has swiftly invoked executive authority to block asylum access for migrants crossing the US-Mexico border illegally. President Biden unveiled this extensive executive action on Tuesday afternoon, June 4, from the White House, aiming to address the border situation following the failure of a bipartisan measure earlier in the year.
This move reflects Biden’s efforts to assert control over immigration, particularly in the lead-up to the first presidential debate, utilizing a similar executive authority previously wielded by former President Donald Trump.
During his speech at the White House, Biden emphasized that Republican obstruction in Congress had left him with no alternative but to resort to executive action. “I’m moving past Republican obstruction and using the executive authorities available to me as president to do what I can on my own to address the border,” Biden asserted.
Under this new executive action, migrants who cross the border unlawfully are prohibited from seeking asylum—a significant departure from longstanding protocol. Unless they meet specific exemptions, such as being unaccompanied children, victims of severe trafficking, or facing acute medical emergencies, migrants will be turned away or returned to their country of origin.
Border authorities reported encountering approximately 3,500 migrants crossing unlawfully on Monday, surpassing the threshold required for the executive action to take effect. The steady influx of migrants has presented an ongoing challenge for the Biden administration, with Homeland Security officials arresting nearly 4,000 migrants daily at the US-Mexico border.
Biden acknowledged that he would have preferred bipartisan legislation to address the issue comprehensively, including hiring more Border Patrol agents, asylum officers, and judges. However, with Republicans obstructing such efforts, Biden asserted that executive action was necessary.
Responding to criticism likening his actions to those of Trump, Biden emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Doing nothing is not an option,” he stressed, affirming that his actions aimed to uphold both American law and values.
Furthermore, Biden directly rebuked Trump’s policies, emphasizing his commitment to humane immigration practices. “I will never demonize immigrants… I will not separate children from their families at the border,” Biden declared, underscoring a stark departure from the previous administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
