Under President Biden, there have been 7.2 million border encounters, a figure that surpasses the population of 36 states in the United States. This influx of encounters is being compared to the historic Italian and Irish migrations at the turn of the century, highlighting the magnitude of the current situation.
Former President Trump holds a significant lead over President Biden by 35 points on the issue of securing the border. Sources indicate that President Biden is now contemplating taking executive action to address the situation, three years into his presidency.
Initially, the White House touted President Biden's efforts as historic in securing the border and establishing a safe and humane immigration system. However, the current stance is that no executive action, no matter how aggressive, can substitute for the policy reforms and resources that Congress can provide, which Republicans have rejected.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed that Americans have lost faith in President Biden and criticized any potential executive actions as mere election year gimmicks that do not effectively address border security. The proposed policies under consideration would restrict asylum claims at the border, allowing them only at designated ports of entry.
Opposition to these measures comes from figures like AOC, who argue that seeking asylum is a legal right and should not be compromised. Republicans counter that President Biden already possesses the necessary executive power to secure the border, citing the previous administration's success in this regard.
President Biden, currently in California for a fundraising event, faces mounting pressure to address the border crisis effectively and restore public confidence in his administration's immigration policies.
