Biden: "The Reason Immigrants Are Gathering Is Seasonal... Not Due to Pro-Immigration Policies"

"Significant Increase in Border Migrants Every Year from January to March"
"Efforts Underway to Expand Border Area Shelter Infrastructure"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden recently dismissed the sharp increase in illegal immigrants at the southern U.S. border as a seasonal factor rather than a result of the new administration's pro-immigration policies. He blamed the surge in occupancy rates at border detention centers on the previous Donald Trump administration's failure to address the issue.

On the 25th (local time), at his first official press conference since taking office, President Biden stated, "The number of immigrants at the southern border increases significantly every year from January to March. In fact, nothing has changed," adding, "The reason immigrants gather at this time is because the risk of dying while crossing the desert is lowest during this period." He continued, "Even in early 2019, before COVID-19, immigrants at the border increased by 31%. No one believes they came because Trump was a good person," emphasizing his point.

This was a strong rebuttal to claims that the recent surge of illegal immigrants at the southern U.S. border and the overcrowding at border detention facilities were due to his pro-immigration policies. President Biden sharply criticized the previous Trump administration regarding the shortage of detention facilities. "We are restoring and expanding the immigrant detention facilities that the Trump administration neglected," he said, adding, "We will not let children who arrive at the border without guardians starve to death."

President Biden stated, "The situation at the southern border will soon improve significantly," promising, "I will ensure that reporters can enter immigrant detention facilities for coverage and will strive for transparency." He further explained, "We are attempting to rebuild the immigration system to accommodate the increase in immigrants and will prepare facilities to house immigrant children managed in border patrol detention centers."

The reason President Biden emphasized the issue of illegal immigrants at the press conference is interpreted as a response to criticism that his pro-immigration policies are responsible for the influx of about 100,000 illegal immigrants from Central and South America in February alone. Approximately 14,000 unaccompanied minors crossed the border, and the Biden administration is reportedly expanding detention facilities by utilizing convention centers and hotels.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.