All articles tagged with #southern border
President Biden issued an executive order to block asylum claims at the southern border, aiming to deter illegal crossings and address political pressures ahead of the November election. The order suspends entry for migrants crossing illegally and will be lifted if crossings fall below 1,500 per day on average for a week, but can be reinstated if they exceed 2,500 per day.
Monthly encounters of migrants at America's southern border have significantly decreased by 42% from a peak of 302,000 in December to roughly 180,000 since January, a development that could benefit President Joe Biden in an election year.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams canceled his trip to the southern U.S. border due to safety concerns raised by the U.S. State Department about a Mexican city he was scheduled to visit. The trip, which would have been his second to the southern border, was intended to address the ongoing migrant influx in New York City, where more than 184,000 migrants have moved through the city’s intake system since April 2022. The cancellation comes amid the city's efforts to manage the situation and the establishment of NYPD outposts in Tucson, Arizona, and Bogota, Colombia, to address border-related issues.
The union representing US Border Patrol agents has criticized the Biden administration for creating "anarchy" at the southern border after a video showed over 100 migrants breaking through razor wire to enter the country. Republican lawmakers have called for immediate border closure, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott blaming the chaos on President Biden's policies. The Biden administration has defended the Border Patrol's response and emphasized the need for more resources and consequences for illegal border crossings.
A Lebanese national was apprehended at the Texas border after claiming to be a member of a foreign terrorist organization and expressing intent to build a bomb. Federal law enforcement officials have launched an investigation, and the individual is in US custody. FBI Director Christopher Wray noted an increase in "known or suspected terrorists" attempting to cross the southern border in the last five years, but emphasized that the number of individuals encountered with terror watchlist records is extremely small. Border security and the migrant crisis remain top concerns for voters, with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump recently visiting Texas border communities.
FBI Director Chris Wray warned a Senate panel about dangerous individuals entering the US illegally at the southern border, citing drug trafficking and the seizure of enough fentanyl in the last two years to kill 270 million people. He also highlighted concerns about a network with ISIS ties and elevated threats from various groups. Additionally, CIA Director William Burns emphasized the importance of US support for Ukraine against Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning of widespread consequences if such assistance is not provided.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is deploying National Guard members to the southern border in response to the Biden administration's perceived failure to address the immigration crisis. The initial deployment will consist of 50 members and last through March, with a second wave replacing them later in the spring. This move comes amid ongoing tensions between Republican governors and the Biden administration over immigration enforcement, with the administration seeking more funding and comprehensive immigration reform while Republicans criticize its handling of the crisis.
President Biden and former President Trump visited the southern border with contrasting immigration policies as the issue gains prominence ahead of the November election.
Cable news channels CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News covered President Biden and former President Trump's visits to the U.S.-Mexican border, with Fox News dedicating most of its afternoon programming to the topic and dismissing Biden's visit as a cynical photo op. CNN and MSNBC played up the "Border Battle Up Close" angle, with CNN airing both men's remarks in full and MSNBC not carrying either live. The differing programming choices reflect the different lenses through which voters may experience news coverage of the campaign.
President Biden plans to visit the southern border in Texas on the same day as former President Donald Trump, aiming to call out Republicans for blocking border legislation and to address the record migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Biden's visit comes as he embraces tougher rhetoric on the border and blames congressional Republicans for inaction, seeking to turn the issue into a campaign win. With the border legislation stalled, Biden is considering executive action on the border, risking backlash from progressives and immigration advocates. Republicans are overwhelmingly viewed more favorably on the border, according to a recent poll.
President Biden is set to make a rare visit to the southern border in Texas on Thursday, the same day former President Trump is also scheduled to visit a border city. Biden's trip comes as his administration faces criticism over the surge in border crossings, with polls showing that voters who disapprove of him cite immigration as a major concern. Biden plans to meet with Border Patrol, law enforcement, and local officials, and is expected to blame House Republicans for blocking a bipartisan package to address the migration crisis, while Trump plans to deliver remarks from the border to highlight the immigration crisis and criticize Biden.
A new report reveals that the White House directed Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to avoid calling the migration surge at the southern border a 'crisis' and considered firing him to reset the administration's messaging on the issue. Mayorkas, who was recently impeached by the House, faced criticism for downplaying the severity of the situation, which has seen record-breaking illegal immigration and migration. Republicans blame Biden's policies for the surge, while Mayorkas maintains that he was following White House instructions.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defends his record on the southern border and criticizes House Republicans after being impeached, stating that the impeachment has no basis in fact or law and will not distract him from his duties. He also addresses the reported death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, criticizes House Republicans for blocking aid to Ukraine, and pushes back against a special counsel's report on President Joe Biden's mental acuity. Additionally, Mayorkas calls for bipartisan immigration reform and emphasizes the need for resolve against authoritarianism.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu is seeking $850,000 from the state's fiscal committee to deploy up to 15 volunteer members of the National Guard to the southern border in Texas for 90 days, citing a "civil emergency" and the need to protect New Hampshire citizens. Sununu's move is in response to what he sees as the federal government's inaction at the border, and he has been joined by 13 other Republican governors in this effort.
Louisiana plans to deploy 150 National Guard troops to the southern border in Texas in response to the surge in illegal immigration, with Gov. Jeff Landry criticizing the federal government's inaction on border security. The troops, if approved by the state's Legislature, would not have authority to detain migrants and would cost an estimated $3 million. This move follows Florida's deployment of 1,000 National Guard members to the border, as Texas Gov. Abbott continues to battle the Biden administration over immigration measures.