Critics of President Biden’s new executive order restricting asylum say it has too many exceptions, rendering it meaningless.
Earlier this week, President Joe Biden issued new orders addressing the border crisis, preventing individuals who enter the United States illegally from claiming and seeking asylum. However, it is not a blanket ban: it will only apply “when high levels of encounters at the Southern Border” overwhelm Border Patrol.
Critics argue the new order provides too many loopholes that render it nearly meaningless. Among the exceptions are an inapplicability to unaccompanied minors, potential victims of trafficking, legal immigrants, and those deemed eligible to enter “based on the totality of their circumstances.”
According to one memo, one of the alleged methods of “processing for Expedited Removal” is through what is known as section 240 removal, which releases the illegal entrants into the United States and given a court date. One source inside the Department of Homeland Security told the New York Post the “ambiguous” language of the order was intentional.
The House Homeland Security Committee blasted Biden’s executive order, saying the exceptions listed “are broad enough to drive a truck through.” Additionally, on the day Biden issued the executive order, the Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Patrol communicated to CBP employees that the order does not change the fact that it does “not come with additional resources” needed for CBP to complete its mission.
Others argue Biden’s actions are disingenuous as Biden has claimed for years, he had no authority to issue orders such as these, and instead blamed Congressional Republicans for stonewalling legislation that would have cemented the record numbers of the border crisis into law.
Republicans aren’t the only ones criticizing Biden. Congressional Democrats are urging Biden to pair the order with bolstered protections for those already in the country illegally, while the ACLU has pledged to sue the administration, saying Biden’s “ban on asylum is illegal.”
Even Bill Maher threw shade at the order, calling it a “Hail Mary” pass to change Biden’s fortunes for the upcoming election. Immigration was the top issue for voters in several monthly Gallup surveys, which does not bode well for Biden. Those sentiments may continue through the November election despite Biden’s latest order.