|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Edited by: Fern Sidman
A recent analysis by Fox News has revealed staggering numbers regarding illegal border crossings under President Biden’s administration. With nearly 7.3 million migrants crossing the southwest border illegally, surpassing the population of 36 individual states, concerns over immigration policies and enforcement measures have intensified, as was reported by Fox News.
According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there have been 961,537 border encounters in the current fiscal year alone, with projections suggesting that fiscal year 2024 could break previous records if the current pace continues unabated, according to the information provided in the Fox News report. Since Biden took office in 2021, the total number of southwest land border encounters has reached a staggering 7,298,486, indicating a significant surge in illegal immigration.
To put these numbers into perspective, the analysis highlights that the figure exceeds the population of 36 U.S. states, underscoring the magnitude of the situation. Additionally, when compared to the populations of some of the largest U.S. states, such as California, Texas, Florida, and New York, the scale of illegal immigration becomes even more apparent, as was indicated in the report on the FoxNews.com web site. Notably, if these migrants were to form a city, it would rank as the second-largest in America, trailing only behind New York City.
Critics, including Republicans and anti-illegal immigration activists, have squarely placed the blame on President Biden’s administration, accusing it of deliberately refusing to enforce immigration laws. According to the Fox News report, Eric Ruark, Director of Research for Numbers USA, a nonprofit advocating for immigration restrictions, labeled the surge in illegal immigration as a result of intentional policy choices made by the Biden administration.
President Biden’s approach to immigration policies has sparked heated debate and criticism from his opponents, who argue that leniency in enforcement has created a significant “pull” factor for migrants, Fox News reported. Critics assert that migrants are drawn to the United States due to perceived job opportunities and government benefits, coupled with the belief that they will not face deportation under Biden’s policies.
In contrast, the Biden administration has denied responsibility for the crisis, attributing the overwhelming surge of migrants to external “push” factors such as violence and economic instability in South and Central America, as was pointed out in the Fox News report. Despite widespread criticism and calls for accountability, the Department of Homeland Security has remained silent on the matter.
Both Ruark and Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), have been vocal in their criticisms of Biden’s immigration policies. They argue that the administration’s refusal to enforce existing immigration laws and its implementation of measures such as catch-and-release and mass parole contribute to the facilitation of illegal border crossings. The Fox News report said that according to Mehlman, migrants have learned that they can enter the country illegally without facing deportation, leading to widespread abuse of the asylum system and neglect of court hearings. Critics contend that by not enforcing laws, the Biden administration is effectively aiding human smuggling and trafficking operations run by Mexican cartels, the report on the FoxNews.com web site reported.
President Biden has called on Congress to pass new legislation aimed at addressing the border crisis. He endorsed a bipartisan deal in the Senate that included provisions for an “emergency border authority” to mandate expulsions of migrants when migration levels exceed certain thresholds, as was reported by Fox News .The proposed legislation also sought to streamline the asylum process, provide work permits for asylum seekers, and increase staffing and resources at the border. However, the report on Fox News said that conservatives in the Senate rejected the deal, arguing that it would normalize record-high levels of illegal immigration and contending that Biden already possesses the necessary authority to enforce stricter border policies.
Amidst the ongoing debate, House Republicans have taken drastic measures by impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for refusing to enforce immigration laws. Two impeachment articles advanced against Mayorkas accused him of failing to comply with federal immigration laws and violating the public trust, as per the information provided in the Fox News report. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has criticized these efforts as politically motivated, maintaining that the Biden administration is enforcing existing laws effectively. Biden himself condemned the impeachment as unconstitutional partisanship, accusing House Republicans of playing petty political games.
As the situation continues to unfold, the impact of this unprecedented wave of migration on national security, resources, and immigration policies remains a pressing concern for policymakers and the public alike.
