Why Biden Is Cracking Down on Asylum at the Border
Jun 6, 2024
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WSJ reporter Michelle Hackman discusses Biden's new asylum policy crackdown at the border, drawing parallels to Trump's 2018 move. The podcast explores the challenges and history of asylum rights, the impact on immigration policy, and the administration's approach to addressing voter concerns on illegal crossings.
Biden's crackdown on asylum reflects the seriousness of the migration crisis and its political significance.
Failed bipartisan negotiations led Biden to implement new executive actions to address the border crisis.
Deep dives
Immigration as Top Voter Concern
Voters prioritize immigration over the economy and inflation as the most significant concern leading up to the election. The issue is deeply personal for voters who feel the impact of high numbers of immigrants and associate immigration with other concerns like drug trafficking. President Biden's new policy reflects the gravity of the migration crisis and underscores the political importance of immigration in the upcoming election.
Challenges in Immigration Policy Negotiations
Efforts to negotiate a bipartisan immigration solution faced obstacles as a deal tightening asylum rules and border enforcement met opposition, leading to a failed bill in Congress. This impasse prompted the Biden administration to devise new executive actions to address the border crisis and control illegal crossings. Despite previous setbacks, Biden's aim to navigate the complexities of immigration policies remains steadfast.
Biden's Actions and Historical Context of Asylum
Biden's executive actions target asylum seekers crossing the border, emphasizing the challenges posed by increasing illegal crossings and claims for asylum. The history of asylum, rooted in providing protection to those facing persecution, highlights the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. By focusing on asylum seekers, Biden aims to regulate migrant influx but faces uncertainties regarding the practical implementation and potential diplomatic challenges of deportations.
President Biden unveiled a last-ditch effort to lower illegal crossings at the southern border this week. The move focuses on asylum seekers, and the policy is similar to one that former President Trump tried in 2018. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman describes the policy and tries to answer the question: why now?