President Joe Biden is anticipated to unveil a broad-reaching executive order aimed at mitigating migrant arrivals at the US-Mexico border, potentially as early as Tuesday.
The forthcoming order proposes expedited deportation procedures for migrants entering the US unlawfully, bypassing the processing of their asylum claims once a specified daily threshold is reached, as reported by CBS.
Unnamed sources familiar with the impending order informed CBS, a news partner of the BBC, that this measure aims to curtail the influx of migrant arrivals.
Since the beginning of Joe Biden’s presidency, over 6.4 million migrants have been intercepted attempting to cross into the US illegally, marking a record high that has exposed him to political vulnerability amid his re-election campaign.
While migrant arrivals have decreased this year, experts caution that this trend may not be sustainable.
Reports from CBS, in collaboration with the BBC’s US partner, indicate that the Biden administration is contemplating utilizing a 1952 law, 212(f), which grants the president authority to limit access to the American asylum system if the arrival of foreigners is deemed detrimental to national interests.
This law was previously utilized by the Trump administration to enforce immigration and travel bans from predominantly Muslim countries and to restrict asylum for migrants apprehended crossing into the US unlawfully, drawing accusations of racism.
The proposed executive order is expected to maintain asylum processing at official ports of entry, where approximately 1,500 asylum seekers utilize the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app, CBP One, to schedule appointments.
Mayors from various border towns, including Brownsville and Edinburg in Texas, are anticipated to attend the president’s announcement in Washington.
According to reports, Democratic lawmakers have also received briefings on the plan.
However, the proposal is likely to face legal challenges from immigration advocates or Republican-led states.
A White House official clarified to the BBC that no final decisions have been made regarding potential executive actions.
In response to criticisms, a White House spokesperson underscored President Biden’s commitment to enhancing border security resources, citing the failure of a bipartisan border security deal earlier this year due to Republican opposition in Congress.
Republican critics view the Biden administration’s border plan as a political maneuver ahead of the elections, arguing that existing US laws are sufficient to address illegal immigration but are not being effectively enforced by the Democratic president.
The potential introduction of the executive order coincides with a decrease in migrant detentions at the US-Mexico border.
Recent figures from CBP indicate approximately 179,000 migrant “encounters” in April, down from December’s historic high of 302,000.
US and Mexican officials attribute this decline to increased enforcement efforts by Mexican authorities, although experts caution against viewing these reductions as permanent.
The decrease in migrant crossings comes amid heightened political tension for President Biden, with immigration emerging as a primary electoral concern for many voters in the upcoming presidential election in November.
According to a Gallup poll conducted in April, 27% of Americans consider immigration the most pressing issue facing the nation, surpassing concerns about the economy and inflation.
Another poll by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in March revealed that two-thirds of Americans disapprove of President Biden’s handling of the border, including approximately 40% of Democrat voters.