However, Joe Biden has opened the door to limited legal arrivals from four impoverished countries.
Washington:
President Joe Biden on Thursday warned undocumented migrants to stay away from the US border while opening the door to limited legal arrivals from four impoverished countries, in a delicate balancing act. to one of the country’s most explosive political problems.
Biden, who is widely expected to soon announce his candidacy for a second term, is seeking to thread the needle on an issue where he faces pressure both from anti-immigration Republicans and from Democrats. Leftist owners are arguing more about human rights.
Calling the US immigration system “broken”, Biden also announced that he would visit the town of El Paso on the US-Mexico border in Texas on Sunday, ahead of the leaders’ summit. North America in Mexico City, where border security will be a major issue. .
Under his new plan, Biden said a controversial rule called Title 42 would be expanded to allow border forces to immediately deny more migrants if they arrive by land.
“Don’t just show up at the border,” Biden warned in a speech to Americans from the White House.
The White House hopes the tough measures will prevent record numbers of migrants and asylum seekers from arriving after epic, often dangerous journeys organized by traffickers.
To appease leftist critics, the president said up to 30,000 eligible migrants would be allowed into the United States each month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
They must apply in their home country, have a sponsor in the United States, and undergo a background check.
“It’s safe, humane, and effective,” Biden said.
However, he said a complete overhaul of the system would require Congress to enact legislation and increase funding for border and immigration infrastructure.
And he has criticized Republicans in Congress for refusing to consider more comprehensive reforms introduced by his administration, blaming “radical Republicans” for the drag. years and use immigration as an electoral issue.
– Title 42 controversy –
The White House proposals announced Thursday expand a similar program of limited legal access for Venezuelans that began in October. However, the use of Title 42 is at the center of a fierce debate.
This measure was implemented under the Donald Trump administration, ostensibly as a health measure to reduce the flow of people during the Covid pandemic. However, human rights advocates and many in Biden’s Democratic party say the use of Title 42 is an abuse of the health emergency by an openly anti-immigration president.
The Biden administration is indeed looking to get rid of the rule and is now waiting for the Supreme Court to decide whether to keep it or leave it. So the introduction of a new tool to curb migrants – it allows border forces to send back people who cross the border illegally without any other process – is likely to cause outrage. among some in his party.
– Not easy to fix –
The US economy is largely based on migrant workers. However, the long uncontrolled migration across the Mexican border, including large numbers of asylum-seekers and also those who illegally crossed the often treacherous terrain, has strained the system’s inability to do so. easy repair.
Many presidents have failed to tackle a particularly complex problem.
Trump came to power in 2016 largely thanks to his message that crime, including rapists and murderers, is flooding the border. The inflammatory rhetoric has sent shockwaves through a community already worried about crime or job loss.
Biden, who defeated Trump in 2020, took office pledging to restore traditional American values at the border, create refuge for asylum seekers, and end policies that detain people. against those who cross the border illegally.
The issue is one of Biden’s main political weaknesses as he prepares for what aides say is likely to announce his candidacy for a second term.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
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