Securing our country’s borders and safeguarding the American people are fundamental responsibilities of the federal government. Ongoing human trafficking at the border is a humanitarian crisis, and the smuggling of fentanyl and other illicit substances poses a serious risk to Americans.
Since taking office, President Biden has dismantled border policies such as Remain in Mexico, which were successful in relieving the crisis during the Trump administration, and even sued the state of Texas for enforcing immigration laws when the Biden administration failed to. Last month, the president issued an executive order suspending admittance of illegal immigrants seeking asylum at the southern border, contingent upon recording of a 7-day average of 2,500 illegal crossings per day. Setting a quota to allow an arbitrary number of illegal crossers to violate our laws is not serious border enforcement. There are correct and incorrect ways to apply for asylum, and illegally crossing our border between ports of entry is always the incorrect way. The action plainly shows, contrary to his own claims, the president can and must do more to enforce our laws and secure the border.
Another executive order the president signed recently to grant legal protection to immigrants illegally in the U.S. is not a long-term fix to our broken immigration system and creates the kind of incentives which will worsen the crisis at the border.
