Reports: Biden Weighing Executive Actions on Border

Facts

• According to several published reports, US Pres. Joe Biden is mulling new executive actions and federal regulations — some previously used by predecessor, former Pres. Donald Trump — to stymie illegal migration across the southern border without congressional approval.¹
• Biden is reportedly studying part of Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Under that section, presidents can block entry of certain immigrants who are considered 'detrimental' to the national interest of the US.²
• Previously, Trump — who's likely to be the 2024 Republican presidential nominee and Biden's opponent — enacted a ban on individuals migrating from certain majority-Muslim countries. Biden overturned the ban on his first day in office.³
• The president could also implement an order to shut down the border if 5K illegal migrants crossed or tried to cross the border illegally in a given day. A recent bipartisan Senate bill, which earlier this month was rejected by some Republicans, contained these types of border-closing triggers.⁴
• Although the administration is looking into utilizing executive orders to enforce stricter border rules, White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández said executive action can't replace the type of Congressional action 'rejected' by Republicans.⁵

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²POLITICO, ³USA Today, ⁴The New York Times and ⁵Daily Mail.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by Daily Caller. While the 2024 election is grows nearer, the crisis at the border is getting worse, so Biden is finally considering doing what Republicans have been telling him to do all along. His inaction in the face of a Southern invasion is either a sign of ineptitude or total disinterest, or both. Either way, we'll find out soon if Biden will start taking US security seriously.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by CNN. The White House is only considering what it might be able to do to further restrict illegal migration, and there's still a chance none of these policies will be enacted. However, Biden is only seeking out workarounds because the obstructionist Republicans killed a bill that would've implemented tighter restrictions and provided the resources to enforce them. If the US is less safe because of a crisis at the border, it's the Republicans' fault.

Predictions