Republicans Denounce Biden’s Border Policy Shift

President Biden’s potential executive order to limit asylum seekers at the southern border has sparked backlash from congressional Republicans. Despite previous calls for similar actions, GOP lawmakers are now condemning the proposed move.

The Biden administration is reportedly considering an executive order that would prevent migrants crossing the southern border from seeking asylum. This move mirrors the authority used by former President Trump in 2017 to enact travel bans on several majority Muslim countries, drawing criticism from Republicans.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has denounced the proposed order, labeling it an “election year gimmick” that fails to “actually secure the border.” However, Republicans have previously urged Biden to use his executive powers to impose stricter border restrictions. In December, Johnson called on Biden to reinstate the Trump-era “remain in Mexico” policy and expand expedited removal for ineligible asylum seekers.

The Biden administration’s shift comes shortly after House Republicans rejected a Senate-negotiated deal that would have enhanced border security in exchange for military aid for Ukraine and Israel. Despite the Biden administration’s support for the legislation, which was dubbed the “toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border,” House Republicans blocked the bill, claiming it was “likely dead on arrival.”

Former President Trump has criticized the bill, arguing that Biden could secure the border without it. The proposed executive action has also faced criticism from the left, with the ACLU indicating it would likely challenge the move in court. The organization emphasized that denying asylum based on how one enters the country was previously deemed unlawful by the courts.