By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Border control : Biden backs deal to strengthen US border controls.
President Joe Biden has endorsed a bipartisan Senate deal aimed at enhancing the United States‘ ability to restrict illegal migrant crossings at the southern border. The emerging deal, expected to be revealed next week, proposes measures to curb the ongoing surge in migrants. Biden pledged to utilize the new authority, embracing stricter measures than previously considered, addressing a perceived vulnerability compared to former President Donald Trump.
The comprehensive Senate agreement includes provisions to expedite the asylum process, aiming to resolve cases within six months, a significant reduction from the current system’s potential 10-year timeframe for asylum seekers. Negotiations have unfolded for months, and Senate leaders anticipate attaching the deal to aid packages for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
In a rare statement on congressional negotiations, Biden expressed support for the proposed deal, emphasizing its toughness and fairness. He highlighted the granting of new emergency authority to shut down the border if overwhelmed, and he committed to using this authority promptly upon signing the bill into law.
Under the impending legislative package, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would gain emergency authority to close the border if daily average migrant encounters reach specified thresholds. The proposed measures include a tiered response: shutting down the border at 4,000 daily encounters over a week, stricter measures at 5,000 daily crossings, and a full closure if crossings exceed 8,500 in a single day. Certain migrants fleeing torture or persecution might be exempted, and those attempting to cross twice during closures would face a one-year entry ban.
The negotiating trio—Senators James Lankford, Kyrsten Sinema, and Chris Murphy—aims to prevent overwhelming surges at the border. The deal has involved substantial input from the Biden administration, reflecting the urgency to address border challenges. Amid Trump’s calls for Republicans to reject immigration compromises, some Senate Republicans, including Mitch McConnell, recognize the need to address the issue promptly.B
Border Control Deal,
Migrant Crossings