The White House tells lawmakers that President Joe Biden is preparing to sign an executive order that would shut down access to the U.S.-Mexico border once the number of daily encounters between ports of entry reaches 2,500
WASHINGTON — The White House tells lawmakers that President Joe Biden is preparing to sign an executive order that would halt asylum applications at the U.S.-Mexico border once the number of daily encounters between ports of entry reaches 2,500, with the border reopening as soon as that happens opens. the number drops to 1,500, according to several people familiar with the discussions.
The impact of the 2,500 figure means the border could effectively be closed immediately to migrants seeking asylum as daily figures are higher than they are now.
The Democratic president is expected to unveil his actions – which mark his most aggressive unilateral move yet to control numbers at the border – at the White House on Tuesday at an event featuring border mayors are invited.
Five people familiar with the discussions confirmed the number of 2,500, while two of the people confirmed the number of 1,500. The figures are daily averages over a week. All insisted on anonymity to discuss an executive order that is not yet public. Other border activities, such as trade, are expected to continue.
Senior White House officials briefed lawmakers on Capitol Hill on details of the planned order ahead of the formal rollout on Tuesday.
Biden has been considering acting on his own for months after bipartisan legislation to restrict asylum at the border collapsed at the behest of Republicans, who departed from the deal en masse at the urging of Donald Trump, the former president and presumptive Republican presidential candidate. nominee. Biden continued to consider executive action even as the number of illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border has declined for months, partly due to a greater effort by Mexico.