Title: Biden Administration’s Controversial Border Policy Faces Criticism from Republicans
In a recent State of the Union address, President Biden mentioned the endorsement of a bipartisan border bill by the National Border Patrol Council. However, the Council’s President, Brandon Judd, criticized Biden, holding him responsible for the current border situation. This criticism comes in light of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defending a controversial policy that allows up to 30,000 migrants to be flown into the United States each month.
Last year, twenty GOP-led states filed a lawsuit against the program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV), claiming it to be unlawful. However, U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton, a Trump appointee, ruled in favor of the Biden administration, stating that the policy was within the bounds of the law. The policy, which was initially announced for Venezuelans in October 2022, allows a limited number of individuals to fly directly into the U.S. if they meet certain criteria.
In January 2023, the Biden administration expanded the program to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans, allowing up to 30,000 people per month to enter the U.S. This program also grants migrants work permits and a two-year authorization to live in the country. However, the states argue that the program goes against the limited parole power granted to the federal government by Congress, which should be used on a “case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”
Despite the criticism, Secretary Mayorkas defended the program, stating that it has played a vital role in expanding “lawful pathways” to migration and reducing the number of encounters at the southern border. He further highlighted that other countries see this program as a model to address irregular migration.
However, since the expansion of the program, there has been a record number of encounters at the border. Fiscal Year 2023 saw over 2.4 million migrant encounters, and in December alone, there were more than 302,000 encounters, the highest ever recorded. Republicans have blamed the Biden administration’s policies, including increased releases into the interior and reduced interior enforcement, for the historic border crisis.
The Biden administration argues that it is facing a crisis at the border, not just within the United States but throughout the hemisphere. They call for more funding and immigration reform from Congress and have supported a recent Senate bill that includes funding, staffing, and some limits on releases. However, conservatives have dismissed this bill as insufficient.
Secretary Mayorkas rebutted claims that the border is open and urged migrants to use legal pathways instead of entering illegally. He warned that those without a legal basis to remain in the U.S. would face removal, a minimum five-year admission bar, and potential criminal prosecution for unlawful reentry. The administration encourages migrants to utilize the expanded and orderly lawful pathways.
Critics argue that the Biden administration’s border policy has not effectively addressed the border crisis, as encounters at the border have reached record highs. With Republicans continuing to voice their concerns and push for stricter border control measures, the debate surrounding immigration reform and border security remains a contentious issue within the United States.
