As the presidential election nears, politicians are questioning President Biden’s recent immigration moves. In the past two weeks, the president has announced two major executive orders on immigration. The first order limits the number of asylum seekers to 2,500 per day, with the option to seek asylum reopening once daily averages decrease. The second executive order establishes a potential pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants, including spouses of U.S. citizens and DACA recipients.
UC San Diego political science professor Thad Kousser explains that President Biden’s actions are an attempt to please constituents by addressing both border security and pathways to citizenship for those already in the U.S. While some critics believe these orders are last-minute political maneuvers, Kousser clarifies that the process of drafting executive orders takes time and planning. He notes that these executive orders bring immigration, a signature issue of former President Trump, to the forefront of political discourse. While some supporters and independents may prefer Trump’s approach to immigration, elevating the profile of immigration as a political issue could potentially benefit Trump’s campaign. Both executive orders are expected to face legal challenges, with former President Trump already predicting that President Biden’s plan will be invalidated on his first day in office.
