How stupid does Biden think the American people are?
As President Joe Biden nears the end of his term, his administration is scrambling to salvage its immigration record and counter criticisms from both voters and Republican leaders. On social media and in speeches, the White House has attempted to paint a picture of a robust approach to border security, citing increased law enforcement presence along the U.S.-Mexico border and touting claims of lower illegal crossings. However, these claims are misleading and fail to address the underlying issues that continue to plague the nation’s immigration system.
Biden’s administration has been under intense scrutiny for its handling of immigration, especially following the historic surge in illegal crossings that began after he took office in January 2021. In a recent post, the White House proudly declared that “encounters today are the lowest since July 2020,” yet this assertion ignores the broader context. The reality is that illegal immigration reached record levels during Biden’s first few years, peaking at over 370,000 encounters in December 2023. This surge occurred as COVID-related public health restrictions eased, allowing more people to cross the border.
While Biden did eventually take some steps to curb the flow, such as expanding the use of law enforcement personnel and imposing temporary asylum bans in 2023 and 2024, these actions came only after growing political pressure. His administration’s attempts to overhaul the immigration system, including introducing the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, faltered in Congress. The bill, which aimed to modernize border security and address the “root causes” of immigration, failed to gain traction and was ultimately sidelined.
The Biden administration’s limited efforts to secure the border contrast sharply with the bold promises made by Republican lawmakers, who argue that comprehensive immigration reform should prioritize real border enforcement. Throughout the past few years, Republicans in Congress have pushed for tougher measures, including increased funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and more stringent penalties for illegal crossings. Despite bipartisan attempts in early 2024 to introduce a new immigration bill, Republican lawmakers largely resisted, citing concerns over the administration’s reluctance to take stronger actions.
Republicans are calling for an immigration system that prioritizes American workers and national security, advocating for stricter measures like DNA testing for asylum seekers and detention for individuals accused of violent crimes. In contrast, Biden has focused on expanding legal immigration pathways, including Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole for migrants from certain countries. While these policies have allowed hundreds of thousands to stay in the U.S., they have done little to address the rising tide of illegal crossings and the strain on local communities.
With the 2024 presidential election looming, immigration is shaping up to be a key issue. President-elect Donald Trump has already vowed to undo many of Biden’s policies and implement sweeping changes aimed at securing the border and reducing illegal immigration. His promises of mass deportations and aggressive border enforcement are in stark contrast to Biden’s more lenient approach, and voters will soon decide which vision for America’s immigration future they prefer.
As the country faces another critical election, the debate over how best to secure the border and reform immigration policy remains unresolved. One thing is clear: the current administration’s handling of immigration has been a failure, and the American people are demanding a change. The stakes are high, and Republicans are poised to take action once they return to power.