Biden shuts down southern border

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden announced an executive action to shut down entries to the U.S.-Mexico border, only when 2500 daily encounters happen between entry points.

It also bars migrants who cross illegally from seeking asylum.

The new border restrictions went into effect at midnight as the southern border is already hitting that number of 2500 daily encounters.

“This action will help us gain control of our border,” said Biden.

President Biden unveiled the action authorizing immigration officials to deport migrants without reviewing their asylum claims.

“They choose to come without permission and against the law, they’ll be restricted from receiving asylum and staying in the United States,” Biden said.

The new restrictive policy suspends processing between points of entry along the southern border.

“To protect America as a land that welcomes immigrants, we must first secure the border. And secure it now,” he added.

Biden blames Republicans for not cooperating through bipartisan legislation and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer agrees.

“The president is left with little choice but to act on his own,” said Schumer.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says House Democrats are ready to pass legislation to add on to this first step.

“That addresses issues connected to dreamers, addresses issues connected to farm workers, and addresses issues connected to protecting immigrant families,” Jeffries said.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson accused the president of making this an election-year issue and say this action isn’t effective.

“His order would still allow more than 900,000 illegal aliens to come in every year at the southern border,” said McConnell.

Some progressive Democrats have expressed their disappointment with this action. It could be lifted if daily encounters go down to about 1500 encounters between entry points.

The ACLU tweeted out a message after the announcement saying, “This action takes the same approach as the Trump administration’s asylum ban. We will be challenging this order in court.”

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