President Joe Biden of the United States is set to sign an executive order this Tuesday that will enable him to close the border with Mexico to curb illegal migration.
AP reported that the White House has summoned lawmakers to outline Biden's decision. The order will halt the acceptance of asylum applications at the southern border once daily encounters with irregular migrants reach 2,500, excluding official ports of entry.
Given that daily encounters with irregular migrants are significantly higher, it is anticipated that Biden might sign the order immediately. If enacted, the border will only reopen when the daily figure drops to 1,500 cases.
Commercial Trade to Continue
The Biden Administration plans to maintain commercial trade through the border despite the executive order. This move would align the White House with policies that were part of a bipartisan border agreement in the Senate, which includes limiting asylum applications after a certain number of encounters.
The administration intends to encourage migrants to apply for asylum at designated ports of entry using the CBP One app by the Customs and Border Protection Office, which schedules approximately 1,450 appointments daily.
The Immigration and Nationality Act grants the president the authority to block the entry of certain immigrants if deemed "detrimental" to national interests. The last time the average daily detection of irregular migrants was below 1,500 cases was in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayors from border communities have been invited to this Tuesday's White House event.
New Initiatives on Illegal Migration
In early May, the U.S. government announced new initiatives to address the challenge of illegal migration from Central America and the Caribbean. During the third ministerial meeting of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection held in Guatemala, the White House issued a statement recalling how Biden had promoted various migration programs and indicated plans for their expansion.
These include the resettlement of refugees and humanitarian parole for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV).
Biden's Executive Order on Border Closure: Key Questions Answered
Given the significance of President Biden's upcoming executive order, here are some frequently asked questions and answers to provide clarity on the issue.
Why is President Biden closing the U.S.-Mexico border?
President Biden is closing the border to curb illegal migration. The executive order will halt asylum applications at the southern border once daily encounters with irregular migrants reach 2,500.
Will commercial trade be affected by the border closure?
No, the Biden Administration plans to maintain commercial trade through the border despite the executive order.
How will asylum seekers be affected by this order?
Asylum seekers will be encouraged to apply at designated ports of entry using the CBP One app, which schedules around 1,450 appointments daily.
When was the last time the daily detection of irregular migrants was below 1,500 cases?
The last time the average daily detection of irregular migrants was below 1,500 cases was in July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.