US News: Biden’s Border Closure Reflects Rightward Shift in Immigration Politics
At the break of dawn, a young boy enjoys a clementine near the border fence that divides the United States and Mexico.
A teenage girl wraps herself in a silver thermal blanket while a man passes his phone through the fence for someone on the other side to charge.
They are considered lucky as they are among the last group of migrants to enter the US before the new border policy is implemented.
The executive order, issued by President Biden, will temporarily seal the border if illegal crossings exceed 2,500 people a day, which is a common occurrence currently.
The order was kept confidential until its announcement. President Biden used this opportunity to criticize Republicans in Congress for not passing a bipartisan bill on the border and to defend his own immigration policy.
“This action will help us gain control of our border and restore order to the process,” he said. “If the United States does not secure our border, there is no limit to the number of people who may try to come here. Doing nothing is not an option, we have to act.”
It marks a significant shift for a man who initially opposed Donald Trump’s strict stance on immigration but is now making decisions similar to his predecessor.
Pic: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Supporters of the order believe it will ease the burden on an overwhelmed system. However, opponents argue that it will endanger the lives of genuine asylum seekers.
Both sides view it as a politically calculated move, especially considering the upcoming general election where immigration will play a significant role.
“It sets a dangerous precedent,” says Lilian Serrano, director of Southern Border Communities Coalition, a non-governmental organization.
Lilian Serrano, director of Southern Border Communities Coalition
“Is pleasing politically motivated decisions more important for President Biden than upholding human rights? That is the message.”
Once processed at the border in San Diego, the busiest spot for illegal border crossings, migrants are transported to the outskirts of the city and left by the roadside.
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Some are unaware of their location. A man from Ghana asks for directions to New York, nearly 3,000 miles away.
Durlei is trying to get to San Francisco
Durlei, a young woman from Colombia, aims to reach San Francisco to reunite with a friend. She used to own a shoe shop in her home country but is now seeking asylum from gang violence.
“I am fleeing my country,” she explains. “If Biden changes his laws, I do not know where I will go.”
Aurelio, from El Salvador, has heard about the new policy. “I feel lucky to have arrived before it comes into effect because my dream is to be here,” he says.
Unaccompanied children and human trafficking victims are exempt from the new policy. Despite this, it is the most stringent border policy by a Democratic president in decades.
This shutdown highlights the rightward shift in immigration politics.
