Is this what a responsible President does?
President Joe Biden is set to deliver the Howard University commencement address in Washington, D.C. on Saturday morning before spending the weekend at his beach home in Rehoboth, Delaware with the First Lady. This comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is grappling with a surge of migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. Asylum officers have been forced to work both weekend days to manage the situation.
On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre announced the President’s schedule, stating that he will travel to Rehoboth Beach after the commencement address. Meanwhile, a DHS memo sent out on Friday morning revealed that asylum officers had been informed that they would need to work at least one day over the weekend. However, in light of the situation, the agency is now asking all Asylum Division employees, with limited exception, to work both Saturday and Sunday to ensure full operational readiness.
The Title 42 public health order at the southern border, which allowed for the rapid expulsion of migrants, ended along with the pandemic national emergency on Thursday night. The order had been in place since March 2020. The expiration has led to expectations of a surge at the border, as migrants believe that they are more likely to be admitted to the US. However, DHS has disputed these claims.
This week, Border Patrol agents have encountered over 10,000 migrants per day, with multiple sectors facing overcapacity. The agency has attempted to release migrants into the interior without court dates, but a late Thursday court order has blocked this action. The DHS is looking to tackle the issue with increased staffing over the weekend.