It was only a matter of time before Biden admitted the truth. He’s waving the white flag.
And now no one knows what to do next after Joe Biden’s officially thrown in the towel.
Surge in Illegal Border Crossings Amid Presidential Inaction
In the months leading up to President Joe Biden’s recent executive order aimed at curbing illegal immigration, the U.S.-Mexico border experienced an unprecedented influx of foreign nationals. This surge followed Biden’s assertion that his administration had exhausted its unilateral options to address the immigration crisis.
According to the latest Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, Border Patrol agents recorded nearly 525,000 encounters with illegal immigrants at the southern border over the course of February, March, April, and May. These figures highlight the period between Biden’s January 30 declaration to the media and his executive order on June 4, which seeks to limit the number of crossings.
During a press interaction on January 30, just before departing on Marine One, President Biden was asked if he had maximized his executive authority to manage the border situation. His response was unequivocal: “I’ve done all I can do. Just give me the power,” he said, emphasizing his longstanding request for additional resources, including Border Patrol agents, judges, and other personnel necessary to manage the immigration system effectively.
Despite these claims of limited capacity, Biden’s administration took significant action four months later. On June 4, a presidential proclamation was issued, suspending the entry of foreign nationals across the U.S.-Mexico border once the weekly average exceeded 2,500 daily crossings.
The order stipulates that this suspension remains in effect until a seven-day average of fewer than 1,500 daily encounters is maintained for two consecutive weeks.
Throughout the critical months preceding the executive order, Border Patrol agents reported substantial numbers of apprehensions: 140,637 in February, 137,473 in March, 128,893 in April, and 117,906 in May, totaling 524,909 illegal crossings. This period was marked by the president’s assertion that he had exhausted all possible measures to control the border crisis.
Critics, however, argue that the executive order is insufficient and riddled with exemptions. They point out that the order still permits up to 1.8 million illegal crossings annually and includes significant loopholes. For instance, migrants using the CBP One app to enter at official ports of entry, unaccompanied minors, and parolees are exempt from the restrictions. Furthermore, exceptions are made for individuals facing immediate medical emergencies and those identified as victims of severe trafficking.
An internal memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) obtained by reporters reveals additional methods through which migrants can avoid deportation, such as making credible fear claims. This document underscores the complexity and challenges inherent in fully addressing the border crisis.
While the Biden administration has given a half-hearted effort to mitigate the surge of illegal immigration at the southern border, the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of these measures remain subjects of intense debate and scrutiny.
Joe Biden’s Messaging Falling Flat
Joe Biden and his team have been trying to insist on messaging for the American people that the president is dedicated to fixing the broken immigration system, but that messaging hasn’t been landing so far.
I'm not interested in playing politics with the border or immigration like Trump does.
I’m interested in fixing it. pic.twitter.com/DLM8m1xMie
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 19, 2024
Yet, when you make comments like he did in January of this year that he’s done all he could do without Congressional approval through legislation, that makes it seem like you’re not all that serious about fixing the illegal immigration crisis at all costs.
Furthermore, those comments from January now feel like a blatant lie given that the most recent decisions from the Biden administration have been executive in nature without any prior approval from Congress girding it.
So now he has a worsening messaging problem that is only going to make his uphill climb this election season that much harder. Climbing out of an approval ratings hole of minus 15% isn’t easy to do. Some political data experts say it’s never been done before.
Time is quickly running out for Biden and company as the election is now just four months and change away.
The Conservative Column will keep you updated on any major immigration news.
