Officials from the Past and Present Department of Homeland Security Question President Biden’s Border Promise

According to NBC News, two former and two current Department of Homeland Security officials have expressed concern over President Joe Biden’s pledge to “shut down” the border.

During a campaign event in South Carolina, Biden stated that Democrat and Republican lawmakers are making progress on a bipartisan bill that would address new border security measures. He also emphasized the need for Congress to pass the bill, which would grant him emergency authority to close the border until it is under control. However, the DHS sources cited by NBC News have expressed reservations about the logistical feasibility of such a move, particularly regarding the necessity for Mexico to take back migrants.

The bill being considered would require DHS to close the border if the daily average for migrant encounters reaches a certain threshold. During a shutdown, a limited number of undocumented migrants would still be allowed to cross legally through ports of entry, and the restrictions would only be lifted once the number of encounters falls below a certain threshold and remains low for a specified period of time.

However, the former and current DHS officials are skeptical about the practical implications of Biden’s plan, with one former official stating that it seems like a purely political message. Another former official mentioned that there is concern among Customs and Border Protection agents that such statements could lead to chaos at the border.