WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The U.S. is shutting down the southern border.
President Joe Biden just announced new plans aimed at addressing the immigration crisis. He says the southern border is overwhelmed, so he’s taking executive action to start turning migrants away.
“Doing nothing is not an option. We have to act,” Biden said.
Tuesday, he announced officials will shut down the border when the average number of daily crossings hits 2500 and it won’t open back up until it slows to an average of 1500 crossings per day or less.
“This action will help us gain control of our border, restore order in the process,” Biden said.
With crossings already above the threshold, the border should shut down immediately.
Only migrants who express a credible fear of returning to their home country will get to see an asylum officer, other migrants will be deported and the new standards for threats in someone’s country of origin are now stricter than before.
“To protect America as a land that welcomes immigrants, we must first secure the border. And secure it now,” said Biden.
Republican leaders criticized the move, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying it’s too little and too late.
“Oh, now he wants to issue some weak executive order,” said Johnson.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggests it’s just an empty election year stunt.
“This is like turning a garden hose on a five-alarm fire,” said McConnell.
Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer defended the policy saying the president took this step because Republicans killed a bipartisan border bill meant to address immigration issues.
“The president is left with little choice but to act on his own,” said Schumer.
However, some Democrats have expressed worries.
“I’m concerned this is just the enforcement-only side of this strategy,” said Rep. Pete Aquilar (D-Calif.)
The skeptical Democrats argue more needs to be done to make legal immigration easier, but many say that should be done through legislation, not executive order.
The ACLU says it plans to file a lawsuit against the executive action. They argue it will put people’s lives at risk and violate their legal right to seek asylum.