Quick Hit:

President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order this week that "shuts down" the U.S. southern border with Mexico, but only after 4,000 sustained daily border crossings over one week—a last-minute attempt to address the border crisis that critics argue it is too little, too late.

Key Details:

• Biden's executive order, expected this week, "shuts down" the border but only after border crossings hit 4,000 per day over a one-week period.
• The order leverages Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict asylum seekers.
• At least 7 million migrants have entered the U.S. illegally since Biden took office, fueling discontent among voters.

Diving Deeper:

President Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order as early as Tuesday that "guarantees" up to 4,000 daily border crossings in a desperate bid to supposedly address the escalating border crisis. This move comes after months of dithering and mounting political pressure as the November elections approach. 

Using Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Biden's administration aims to drastically limit migrants' ability to seek asylum at the southern border once encounters exceed the new threshold. The White House has discussed using an average of 4,000 daily border crossings over a week as the metric for implementing the restrictions.

This eleventh-hour decision comes after a series of failures and missteps. Despite repeated warnings and soaring numbers of illegal crossings, Biden has consistently failed to implement effective border security measures. His administration supported a bipartisan border security bill tied to Ukraine aid, which was ultimately defeated. In recent weeks, Biden has resorted to piecemeal actions, attempting to speed up the asylum process and deter migration, but these efforts have fallen short.

On Friday, MxM News reported that illegal aliens tired of waiting for Border Patrol were using ride-sharing apps to escape into the U.S. 

Former President Donald Trump, who made immigration a cornerstone of his administration, has been a vocal critic of Biden's policies. Trump has promised to close the border on his first day in office if elected to a second term, emphasizing the inadequacy of Biden's approach.

"The border patrol, I know them so well. They endorsed me, they always endorse me. They say when Trump goes back, it will all be better. And Biden, by the way, he doesn’t need any legislation,” Trump said in an interview with Fox & Friends this weekend. “In 2016, it was a big factor of my win … but now the border is 100 times worse than it was in 2016.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson has slammed Biden's executive action as “too little, too late,” reflecting widespread skepticism among Republicans. Biden officials have vacillated on the timeline for issuing this executive order, first anticipated ahead of the president’s State of the Union address, but repeatedly delayed due to fluctuating border crossings and the administration's own indecision.

The timing of this executive order announcement appears strategically planned to mitigate political damage. It follows Mexico's Sunday election and avoids coinciding with the 12th anniversary of DACA on June 12, when pro-immigrant groups are expected to press the administration for further protections for long-term undocumented immigrants.

As previously reported by MxM News, Migrants claimed "they do not want Trump" amid polls showing a majority of Americans disapprove of Biden’s handling of immigration.

Despite these tactical moves, immigration policy experts warn that the new policy is unlikely to make a significant impact. The executive order may lead to erratic surges in border crossings in remote areas, complicating Border Patrol’s efforts and further straining resources.

Recent reports indicate that many migrants are rushing to cross the border now, fearing that a potential Trump victory could result in a closed border and mass deportations. With more than 7 million migrants entering the U.S. illegally since Biden took office, public discontent with his handling of immigration remains high. This executive order, seen as a last-ditch effort, is unlikely to quell the growing dissatisfaction with Biden's approach to border security.