In the End, Biden Turns 'Anti-Immigration'... Border Closure if Illegal Entries Exceed 2,500 per Day (Comprehensive)

'Illegal Immigration Asylum Ban' Executive Order Signed
Blocking Trump's Offensive Ahead of TV Debate on 27th
Trump Calls It a "Political Show," Johnson Criticizes as "Window Dressing"

U.S. President Joe Biden has finally pulled out the administrative order card to curb the influx of illegal immigrants. Ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, as Americans' dissatisfaction grew over the surge in illegal immigration, he made a U-turn from his conciliatory immigration policy stance and took a bold step to raise the border wall. President Biden is being evaluated as becoming more 'Trump-like' by pledging to block the southern border and deport illegal immigrants in his immigration policy.

On the 4th (local time), the White House announced on its website the implementation plan of an administrative order that prohibits asylum applications from illegal immigrants and forcibly deports them to their home countries.

In a White House speech that day, President Biden stated, "Those who choose to come to the U.S. illegally without permission will have restricted asylum and stay in the U.S.," adding, "This measure will help us control the border and restore order." He further explained that the measure "will be applied until the number of illegal entrants is reduced to a level that our system can effectively manage."

This administrative order grants the president the authority to close the border if the number of immigrants attempting to cross illegally exceeds an average of 2,500 per day over a week. Exceptions may apply to unaccompanied children, victims of human trafficking, and others. As of last month, the number of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. already exceeded an average of 3,500 per day, so the ban on asylum applications and forced deportations under this order could take effect immediately. This measure is based on Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the president to block entry if a foreigner is deemed harmful to the country.

For the U.S. to reopen the border and accept asylum applications from illegal immigrants again, this number must remain below an average of 1,500 per day over a week.

President Biden's shift from a conciliatory immigration policy to locking down the southern border is due to the worsening public opinion in the U.S. over the recent surge in illegal immigration. According to a Gallup poll conducted in April, 27% of respondents cited immigration as the most important issue facing the U.S. This is the first time in 24 years that respondents have identified the same issue as the top concern for three consecutive months. In a poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) at the end of February, 65% of respondents opposed the Biden administration's border security response, and 71% said immigration and border security policies were heading in the wrong direction.

Through this administrative order, the Biden administration expects to block the Republican Party's offensive on the illegal immigration issue. It is also analyzed that the administration does not want to be on the defensive over illegal immigration ahead of the TV debate with former President Donald Trump scheduled for the 27th. Earlier, when public opinion over the surge in illegal immigration became serious, President Biden proposed a bill to strengthen border control and urged Congress to pass it. However, the Republican Party did not cooperate with the bill's passage due to opposition from former President Donald Trump, who wanted to keep the illegal immigration issue alive until just before the election. The bill at that time included a provision granting the president the authority to close the border if the number of illegal immigrants exceeded an average of 4,000 per day over a week.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former President Trump, who had previously promised a tough response to illegal immigration, launched an offensive immediately after the announcement of this administrative order, accusing President Biden of putting on a 'political show.'

Through his social media platform Truth Social, former President Trump criticized, "Foolish Joe Biden has completely surrendered to our southern border," adding, "His weakness and extremism have caused an unprecedented level of border invasion." He continued, "After nearly four years of failure, Joe Biden is finally pretending to do something about the border issue," emphasizing, "This is all a 'show.' He knows we are debating in three weeks."

On the same day, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the administrative order at a press conference, calling it "window dressing," and said, "Everyone knows it. If he really cared about the border, he would have taken such measures long ago."

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