Fact Check: "Joe Biden opened the southern border"
What We Know
The claim that "Joe Biden opened the southern border" refers to the changes in immigration policy that occurred after he took office in January 2021. Upon his inauguration, Biden signed several executive orders aimed at reversing the restrictive immigration policies of the Trump administration. This included halting the construction of the Mexico–United States border wall and reinstating protections for DACA recipients (source-2).
Since Biden's presidency began, there has been a significant increase in the number of illegal border crossings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported over 7.2 million encounters with illegal migrants from January 2021 to January 2024, with 2023 alone seeing over 2.5 million encounters, marking a record year (source-2). Critics argue that these policy changes have contributed to a perception of a "border crisis," with some interpreting the increased crossings as an indication that the border has been "opened" (source-1).
Analysis
The assertion that Biden "opened" the southern border is misleading and requires nuanced understanding. While it is true that Biden's administration has implemented policies that are less restrictive than those of his predecessor, this does not equate to an "open" border in the literal sense. For instance, the Biden administration has continued to enforce certain measures, such as Title 42 expulsions, which allow for the rapid expulsion of migrants at the border due to public health concerns (source-2).
Moreover, Biden's policies have included efforts to manage immigration through legal pathways, such as the humanitarian parole program announced in January 2023, which aims to increase the admission of migrants from specific countries while also strengthening border security (source-2).
The sources used to support the claim of an "open border" often come from politically biased outlets or are framed in a way that emphasizes the increase in crossings without providing context about the policies in place. For example, while the New York Post reported on the reinstatement of the "catch and release" policy, it did not fully explore the complexities of the current immigration system or the legal frameworks that still govern border enforcement.
Conclusion
The claim that "Joe Biden opened the southern border" is Partially True. While Biden's administration has indeed relaxed certain immigration policies compared to the Trump administration, it is misleading to suggest that the border is entirely open. There are still significant enforcement measures in place, and the administration has attempted to manage immigration through various legal pathways. The increase in illegal crossings can be attributed to a combination of factors, including ongoing crises in migrants' home countries, rather than solely to Biden's policy changes.
Sources
- Biden’s Border Crisis Timeline - United States House of Representatives. Link
- Immigration policy of the Joe Biden administration - Wikipedia. Link
- Biden Signs Executive Orders Reversing Trump Immigration Policies - Voice of America. Link
- Biden's first 100 days: How U.S. immigration policy has — and hasn't — changed - CBS News. Link
- Biden reinstates 'catch and release' policy at southern border - New York Post. Link
- Biden Immigration Changes: What Changed During His Presidency - VisaVerge. Link
- Immigration: Biden halts border wall and travel ban - CNN. Link
