President Biden Signs Executive Order to Temporarily Close Southern Border to Asylum-Seekers

President Biden Signs Executive Order to Temporarily Close Southern Border to Asylum-Seekers

In a significant move to strengthen border control, President Joe Biden signed an executive order on June 4, 2024, enabling him to temporarily “shut down” the southern border to asylum-seekers if illegal crossings exceed a specific threshold. This action, which comes ahead of the upcoming presidential election, aims to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the Biden administration.

Details of the Executive Order

The order invokes section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which grants the president the authority to restrict the entry of immigrants when it is in the national interest. Under this order, the U.S.-Mexico border will be closed to asylum-seekers when daily encounters surpass 2,500—a figure that has already been exceeded. The border will reopen to asylum-seekers if the number of crossings falls below 1,500 for a sustained period.

This decision is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to demonstrate robust border control amid escalating political pressure and criticism. With Republicans and some Democrats expressing concerns over the handling of border issues, the White House has recently taken steps to expedite the asylum process and deter migration.

In addition, House Speaker Mike Johnson has criticized the executive order as “too little, too late,” questioning why such measures were not implemented earlier. The timing of the executive order has been a subject of extensive deliberation within the Biden administration, initially delayed due to a temporary decrease in border crossings and strategic considerations surrounding legislative developments.

White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández stated, “While Congressional Republicans chose to stand in the way of additional border enforcement, President Biden will not stop fighting to deliver the resources that border and immigration personnel need to secure our border.” He emphasized the administration’s ongoing efforts to address the complexities of the broken immigration system.

Experts in immigration policy suggest that while the policy might not significantly change the overall situation at the border, it could potentially manage surges in crossings more effectively. However, concerns remain about the potential for more unpredictable surges in remote areas, complicating efforts by the Border Patrol.

As the November election approaches, the Biden administration hopes this executive action will ease some of the political pressure related to border security issues, though it recognizes that a lasting solution demands comprehensive action from Congress.

---