San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Democrats fear fallout from change in border policy
Some Democrats are increasingly worried about an immigration onslaught — at the polls in November.
For the past year, Republicans have made clear they see a winning strategy in again appealing to voters’ concerns about immigration and border security. And that was before the Biden administration decided to end the policy that allows U.S. officials to quickly turn away asylum seekers at the border because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Immigration officials acknowledge the change will result in an increase in migrants coming into the United States. Democratic critics contend there’s not a plan in place to deal with that — or the political repercussions. Typical Biden allies in Congress have said now is not the time to shift away from the policy under the rule known as Title 42, which was invoked by former President Donald Trump.
In doing so, vulnerable Democrats almost sound like they’ve adopted Republican talking points. Polls reflect voter unhappiness with how Biden has handled immigration and border matters.
“We’ve got a crisis on the southern Arizona border,” said Sen. Mark Kelly, Dariz., according to Roll Call. “I talk about it because it’s an issue for my state and for my constituents. And I also think it’s a national security issue.”
Others say the policy change is needed, but are wary of the price Democrats may pay for it.
“It’s the right thing to do, but I don’t know if it will be a political problem or not,” said House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., according to CNN.
That’s an age-old dilemma: asking people to back good policy (at least in the eyes of some) even if it seems bad politics.
Republicans clearly see it as bad policy but, for them,
good politics.
Three states — Missouri, Arizona and Louisiana — filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking Biden from rescinding Title 42. The change is scheduled to take effect on May 23. Last week, a $10 billion COVID-19 relief package was delayed when Senate Republicans attempted to tie it to a vote on Title 42.
Then some Democratic senators, including Kelly, joined Republican lawmakers in introducing a bill to temporarily block Biden’s plan.
“I think everybody is justifiably freaked out about what’s going to happen at the border,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. “... How are they going to manage that? ... I think it’s crazy. Crazy politically, too.”
Some former Trump administration officials have urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to declare a border “invasion” and direct state police and National Guard to turn back migrants — which would be a legally questionable move since immigration is the purview of the federal government. As of Friday, Abbott was noncommittal on that, but he did order state troopers to stop and inspect commercial vehicles crossing the border.
Abbott said he plans to transport undocumented migrants to Washington — those who are willing and have been released from federal custody — further highlighting his dispute with the Biden administration over immigration policy.
Some immigration advocates say the “Armageddon” rhetoric is overblown and that there are ways to manage the situation better than before. The administration is increasing border staffing and expanding facilities while lining up more transportation. Plans are also in the works to increase COVID-19 vaccinations for migrants.
Biden kept Title 42 in place since taking office in January 2021, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on April 1 said it was no longer necessary “considering current public health conditions and an increased availability of tools to fight COVID-19.”
Advocates and many Democrats contend Trump invoked Title 42 not so much for public health reasons but to sharply limit asylum for people f leeing persecution in other nations. Public health experts and federal judges have questioned the need for the program. Since Trump’s action in March 2020, migrants have been expelled from the U.S. more than 1.7 million times.
Critics of the policy say asylum seekers have been endangered by Title 42 by being sent to areas where they are targets for attacks and kidnappings, including being returned to their home countries.
Migrants were not treated consistently under the policy, according to Kate Morrissey of The San Diego Union-tribune, who reported that people of certain nationalities have been processed in the U.S. while others have not. Recently, Morrissey noted U.S. officials had exempted Ukrainians who arrived at the San Diego-tijuana border, allowing them to enter the San Ysidro Port of Entry while turning away Mexican asylum seekers who said people were trying to kill them in Tijuana.
What kind of political impact the asylum change has may depend on whether it is seen as an orderly or chaotic process. Tens of thousands of migrants are camped along the border waiting to get in and more are expected to come.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged the anticipated inf lux of migrants, but said they will be dealt with appropriately and fairly.
“What distinguishes us from the past is the fact that we will not implement policies of cruelty that disregard our asylum laws,” Mayorkas said on “CBS Evening News.” “We are rebuilding a system that was entirely dismantled.”
Democrats tend to support that, but even those far from the border are concerned.
“When I travel around my district I do hear from constituents who are frustrated about the ongoing crisis and the challenges we face in our southern border,” said Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-VA., at a recent committee hearing. “And my constituents are right to expect a secure border and right to expect a lawful immigration system that works.”
Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Twitter that “We can, and MUST, do both.”
A more accessible immigration system and border security aren’t mutually exclusive, but they’re often framed as an either/or proposition. Calls continue — as they have for decades — for a sweeping overhaul that improves both the immigration system and border security. As before, there is little prospect of that happening anytime soon.
Polls show Republicans could retake majorities in both the House and Senate in the fall. For Democrats, there’s always the hope that the broad political landscape will look different by then and that the Biden administration will show it has a reasonable handle on the immigration system. But for now, they’re girding for blowback over the lifting of Title 42.
A Morning Consult/ Politico poll released Wednesday said 56 percent of all voters surveyed oppose removing the pandemic-era border policy.
The introduction to the poll called it “this administration’s most unpopular decision so far.”
Tweet of the Week
Goes to Emily Alpert Reyes (@Alpertreyes) of the Los Angeles Times.
“It’s beginning to feel like we should start getting news alerts when a politician does ‘not’ test positive for the coronavirus.”