On Thursday, both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will be visiting the U.S-Mexico border in an effort to gain political advantage in the upcoming campaign rematch, as they each seek to address the issues with the nation’s immigration system.
According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, President Biden will be visiting Brownsville, Texas, located in the Rio Grande Valley, a region known for high levels of border crossings. During his trip, he will have a meeting with border agents to discuss the importance of passing bipartisan legislation. This will mark his second visit to the border since taking office, as he previously made a trip to El Paso in January of last year.
It has been reported that Trump will be traveling to Eagle Pass, Texas, which is approximately 325 miles or 520 kilometers away from Brownsville. This location is another area of contention between the state and federal government regarding border security.
The 2024 presidential race highlights the crucial significance of immigration for both Republicans and Democrats, with the breakdown of congressional negotiations on a plan to address illegal immigration further emphasizing its centrality.
In response to Republicans’ decision to withdraw from the bipartisan border agreement following Trump’s opposition to the proposal to enforce stricter asylum regulations and establish daily limits on border crossings, Biden has strongly criticized them. In contrast, Trump has intensified his anti-immigrant efforts by detailing the dangers of wide open borders.
The increase in the number of individuals unlawfully entering the U.S. border has been a persistent issue, driven by complex factors such as conflicts and turmoil in other countries, economic conditions, and the exploitation of migration by cartels for financial gain.
The quantity of individuals migrating towards the border between the United States and Mexico has exceeded the capabilities of an immigration system that has not undergone significant updates in numerous years. While there was a 50% decrease in arrests for illegal crossings in January, there were record-breaking numbers in December.
According to Trump’s campaign, Biden’s scheduled visit to the border is seen as a defensive move on the president’s part regarding the issue of immigration, which is causing problems for his reelection campaign. With the upcoming election, Biden is to blame for the current immigration crisis, which is being referred to as the worst in history.
It has been reported that the White House has notified certain lawmakers on Capitol Hill that President Biden will not be announcing any executive orders regarding immigration during his visit to the border on Thursday.
According to a January AP-NORC poll, the percentage of people who expressed concerns about immigration increased from 27% to 35% compared to the previous year. In terms of government focus in 2024, a majority of Republicans (55%) believe immigration should be a priority, while only 22% of Democrats listed it as a top issue. This marks an increase from December 2022, where 45% of Republicans and 14% of Democrats held the same views.
While Biden made only one trip to the border, he did not interact with any migrants. Instead, he inspected Customs and Border Protection facilities and walked along a section of border wall. In discussions about the border bill, he expressed a willingness to close off asylum if given the authority, a significant shift towards more conservative views for Democrats who are growing increasingly concerned about the sight of migrant encampments. They are also urging the administration to expedite work permits for families who have arrived so that they can at least search for employment.
