Biden Wants the Public To Think He’s Cracking Down on the Border. Critics Aren’t Buying It.

President Joe Biden’s immigration policies and approach have drawn criticism and raised questions about his administration’s credibility on the issue. Despite rolling out new policies, including a hard cap on the number of Latin Americans seeking asylum in the US and temporary deportation to Mexico for such asylum seekers, critics say these measures are too little too late and are meant to grab headlines. They believe that, despite the Biden administration’s efforts to curb southern border crossings, the policies do not address the fact that many Latin Americans still believe that they are welcome to start new lives in the US.

Biden’s pivot on immigration underscores his vulnerability on the issue as he prepares to run for a second term. Polling data suggests the issue is a liability for the president, with just 39 percent of US adults approving of his handling of immigration and just 38 percent approving of his response to the border crisis.

Democratic strategists argue that the electorate is much closer to the center on immigration than where the White House stands. Some liberals, such as Democratic political consultant Colin Strother, assert that the White House allowed ideological influences to determine the previous administration’s immigration policies, which led to chaotic flows of illegal immigrants.

Biden’s administration has tried to undo the damage with new policies, such as the establishment of a refugee program in Canada for 15,000 migrants allegedly fleeing violence and economic collapse in South America and Central America. Critics argue that this figure is too low compared to the more than 156,000 southern border crossings in January alone and that it fails to address Border Patrol’s lack of resources.

The Biden administration has also neglected deportations, which have plummeted to historic lows. Former senior Department of Homeland Security official Jon Feere argues that the administration’s policies have created a nationwide sanctuary where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests and removals have dropped.

Biden is doubling down on a more permissive immigration system while giving tough talk to lawbreakers. The White House announced a program in January that would make it easier for migrants from four Latin American countries to apply for asylum via a mobile phone application, accepting up to 30,000 migrants each month. Critics argue that this policy does nothing to address the border’s ongoing challenges.

The administration’s plan to repeal the Title 42 pandemic-era rule that gives authorities the power to turn away anyone on the southern border who may pose a public health risk has also raised questions. Left-wing activists have criticized the proposal as “deadly” and reminiscent of Trump-era policies, but immigration experts note that Biden’s rule is full of loopholes that negate much of its deterrence effect.