WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) – As President Joe Biden prepares for a critical debate with rival Donald Trump this week, he introduces new immigration and border policies aimed at winning over skeptical voters.
In June, Biden unveiled two major policy moves to tackle migration issues and appeal to the electorate: an asylum ban to reduce illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border and a comprehensive legalization plan for long-term residents married to U.S. citizens.
These policies reflect Biden’s balancing act as he seeks another term in the White House. Record numbers of migrants have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally during Biden’s presidency, making immigration a key voter concern ahead of the November 5 election.
Biden, a Democrat, has toughened border enforcement in response to criticism from Trump. The former president, a Republican, implemented strict immigration policies during his 2017-2021 term and promises a broad immigration crackdown if reelected.
A mid-May Reuters/Ipsos poll showed registered voters favor Trump over Biden on immigration policy by 17 percentage points. The issue will likely be a focal point in their debate on Thursday in Atlanta.
Earlier this year, Biden urged Congress to pass a bipartisan Senate border security bill, but Republicans rejected it in February after Trump opposed the measure. On June 4, Biden introduced a policy barring most migrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border from seeking asylum. The executive action aims to reduce illegal immigration by swiftly deporting migrants to their home countries or Mexico, instead of allowing them to remain in the U.S. while their cases are processed.
Recent weeks have seen a decline in the number of migrants caught crossing the border, though U.S. officials caution it is too early to determine if the trend will persist.
Polling data indicating that most Americans want tighter border controls motivated the border crackdown. However, the White House also sees an opportunity to engage Latino voters through pro-immigrant actions. A poll by Immigration Hub showed strong support, particularly among Latinos, for legalizing spouses of U.S. citizens.
This data, along with advocacy from Democrats and immigrant rights groups, prompted Biden to propose a path to citizenship for about 500,000 spouses of U.S. citizens, mainly long-term residents from Mexico.
Matt Barreto, a Biden campaign pollster, noted that Americans differentiate between migrants at the border and long-term residents, favoring both border enforcement and fair treatment for those who have lived and worked in their communities for years.
“When discussing individuals like housekeepers, child caregivers, or aides for the elderly, people respond positively,” Barreto said.
Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt criticized Biden’s new program, emphasizing voter support for deportations. A May Reuters/Ipsos poll found that over half of U.S. voters support deporting most or all immigrants in the country illegally.
“On his first day back in the White House, President Trump will launch the largest criminal deportation operation of illegal immigrants and restore the rule of law,” Leavitt said.
Trump has expressed support for skilled, legal immigration, suggesting on a podcast that all foreign graduates from U.S. colleges should receive permanent residence, or green cards. His campaign later clarified that this would follow the “most aggressive vetting process in U.S. history,” allowing only the most skilled graduates to stay.
Latino community organizers believe Biden’s legalization plan for spouses could help reconnect with Latino voters. Mi Familia Vota, a nonpartisan group active in ten states, including battleground states like Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, plans to highlight Biden’s effort in its voter outreach.
“This is a big deal for the Latino community,” said Hector Sanchez Barba, the group’s executive director.