Biden’s Border Closure Talk: What Does It Mean?

President Joe Biden has recently been vocal about potentially closing the U.S.-Mexico border, a move linked to his effort to secure a border agreement in Congress, which is also tied to funding for Ukraine.

This potential deal in the Senate, aimed at resolving border issues, faced challenges, largely due to opposition from Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Biden stated over the weekend that a bipartisan bill would not only address immigration issues but also grant him emergency powers to temporarily close the border to regain control.

Biden’s tough stance stems from his desire to continue supporting Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion. Senate Republicans insisted on combining further funding for Kyiv with a border management deal. Biden’s declaration of closing the border is seen more as a political move to counteract criticism of his immigration policies, especially in the lead-up to the presidential election.

Under the proposed deal, the border wouldn’t completely shut down; trade and movement of citizens and legal residents would continue. The deal includes a mechanism to halt asylum screenings when illegal crossings exceed a certain threshold. There’s also an initiative to reform how asylum cases are processed, aiming to expedite case resolutions and raise the standards for asylum applications.

Trump had previously threatened to close the border, including trade and traffic, to pressure Mexico on migrant issues. He never implemented this, but his rhetoric drew criticism for being harsh and xenophobic. Biden’s current position, reminiscent of Trump’s, risks alienating progressive supporters who view it as too conservative.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, an ally of Trump, argues that the president already has sufficient authority to control illegal crossings. The White House, however, insists that congressional action is needed for substantial policy changes and funding.

The outlook for this deal remains uncertain. Senate negotiations have been ongoing, but conservative members deem the measures insufficient for immigration control. Johnson’s recent statement suggests the proposal would face strong opposition in the House.

Reflecting on Biden’s border policies so far, his administration has attempted a comprehensive immigration overhaul and executed numerous executive actions. Despite these efforts, the number of border crossings continues to rise. Biden’s team views the proposed asylum changes as part of a broader strategy, balancing humanitarian pathways with stricter border controls, and aims to involve other nations in addressing the issue regionally. However, they are wary of losing presidential discretion in granting humanitarian parole for special cases.