America cannot be the lifeboat for the world
The Title 42 emergency public health order is scheduled to end on May 23, as many Democrats have been demanding. But the result is likely to be a massive surge in illegal immigration — and disaster for Democrats in the midterm elections.
President Biden’s executive action to accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, despite Title 42, seems like a popular decision. The problem is, so far, the federal government has been unable to find enough housing for all of the 76,000 Afghans admitted this year. So, where will we put the Ukrainians?
Almost two million would-be immigrants crossed the southern border in the last two years. Many were probably legitimate refugees, but almost all were immediately deported under Title 42. What if most of these immigrants are allowed to stay and claim asylum if Title 42 expires?
The huge number of people living unhoused at the border without medical and sanitation services is a humanitarian crisis that cries out for change. And it is also a public health emergency that justifies the CDC’s use of Title 42. Despite the lower threat from the current BA.2 variant, there are other evolving strains among lessfortunate populations around the world, along with malaria, drugresistant tuberculosis and even polio.
According to a recent NPR report, polio vaccine campaigns are still needed in at least 14 countries, mainly in Africa. Some of those are located in conflict zones, which is where refugees often originate. And with so many adults and children unvaccinated for polio these days, America is no longer immune to this disease.
It is time to admit that Title 42, although harsh, has been indispensable in managing unprecedented migration pressures. For the sake of public health, the CDC should keep this regulation in force for the foreseeable future. If not, bipartisan legislation is needed to do that.
Equally important, in an age of pandemics, climate catastrophes and war, troops are needed to get real, granular control of the southern border. President Biden should consider re-deploying part of the armed forces to the borders to respond to multiple threats. Democrats should rise to the challenge of mass migration with a compassionate bipartisan plan for controlling illegal immigration by using soldiers and technology along the borders, obviously with strong rules of engagement to protect civilians.
In addition to instituting military control of the borders, the asylum law should be amended to end the presumptive right to make an asylum claim upon entry at the border. Except for visa holders, asylum applications should be made from outside the U.S. to manage the surging demand. Also, the president’s executive authority should no longer include admitting as many refugee families, Central American minors and other needy persons as he or she feels appropriate. Congress should decide on future caps for asylum claims, with bipartisan legislation.
New border controls will only be politically feasible if it they are established jointly with comprehensive immigration reform. This would have to include DACA “dreamers” and their families as well as other long-time undocumented residents, who should have a path to citizenship available.
Because of rising concerns about a perceived invasion of illegal immigrants, President Biden should start taking a harder line now to ensure that the Republicans do not own this pivotal issue in November. The fear among many voters of uncontrolled illegal immigration could “trump” all other issues, including inflation, unless Biden strictly refuses entry to the growing crowds at the border.
Democrats, not Republicans, must become the foremost proponents articulating the need for finite, practical limits on the number of immigrants admitted, including climate refugees and war refugees. Because there are hundreds of millions of people who could theoretically make asylum claims under the current law, if they can make those claims at a border port of entry.
But the sad truth is, America cannot be the lifeboat for an evergrowing, unlimited numbers of refugees, no matter how deserving they may be or where they come from. It would sink us.
In short, there is a winning strategy available for Democrats in the coming elections, one with bipartisan appeal — if they have the guts to start leading the fight for effective immigration controls.