Title: A Shift in Tone: President Biden’s Evolution on Immigration Policies
Joe Biden, during his presidential campaign in 2020, promised a significant departure from the immigration policies of the previous administration under Donald Trump. He vowed to institute a 100-day moratorium on deportations upon taking office, protect sanctuary cities, and welcomed asylum seekers to “surge” to the border. Biden expressed his belief that America could absorb millions of immigrants in need and called for a more humane and compassionate approach towards undocumented immigrants.
However, since Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, the mass influx of asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border has placed immense strain on the country’s immigration resources. This situation has resulted in a significant political challenge for President Biden, with former President Trump capitalizing on it to criticize his administration. A recent poll by CNN revealed that only 30% of Americans approve of Biden’s handling of the border situation.
In response to this, President Biden has shifted his tone on immigration policies, moving away from the more liberal stances he adopted during his campaign and returning to more centrist views he held as a senator and vice president. The White House has urged sanctuary cities to comply with federal law enforcement agencies regarding migrants who have committed crimes, and Biden has expressed his support for a now-stalled border bill that would tighten asylum laws and include other conservative agenda items.
Biden’s change in stance on immigration aligns closely with his longstanding position on the issue throughout his political career. Over the decades as a US senator and in his prior presidential bids, Biden maintained more centrist positions on immigration. His more liberal stances during the 2020 campaign were primarily a reaction to the harsh policies of the Trump administration.
Despite the controversy surrounding immigration, Biden is expected to address the issue during his State of the Union address to Congress this evening. Both he and Trump held campaign appearances at the southern border last week, with Biden urging Trump to support the bipartisan border Website security bill and encouraging Republicans to bring it up for a vote in Congress.
Immigration continues to be an important issue in the 2024 election, with both Biden and Trump holding strong opinions on the matter. Rep. Tom Suozzi, who recently won a special election to replace ousted Republican Rep. George Santos in New York, is an example of how immigration positions can evolve. Although Suozzi once advocated for the removal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from Nassau County, he ran ads during his special election campaign supporting border Website security and Border Patrol.
Biden’s rhetoric on immigration during his 2020 presidential campaign was notably different from his stance in the early 2000s. In 2007, as a candidate for president, Biden emphasized securing the border and even spoke about jailing employers who hire undocumented immigrants. He argued that sanctuary cities should not be allowed to violate federal law, and supported the construction of a fence to stop drugs from entering the country from Mexico.
While Biden did not adopt the same hardline stance as some of his opponents in the Democratic primary during 2019 and 2020, he vowed to reverse Trump’s asylum policies. Since taking office, Biden has issued executive orders ending construction on the border wall and reversing the Muslim ban, among other actions aimed at making immigration more accessible and humane. However, after Title 42 ended in the spring of 2023, the Biden administration implemented new, stricter rules that bar asylum claims for migrants who passed through another country on their way to seeking asylum in the US.
In conclusion, President Biden’s shift in tone on immigration policies reflects a broader pivot among Democrats and the complexities of addressing immigration issues in the United States. His stance has evolved significantly over the years, from advocating for stricter measures during his early political career to adopting more liberal positions in response to Trump’s administration and then returning to a more centrist approach. The immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border continues to present challenges for the Biden administration, as it navigates the delicate balance between maintaining national Website security and upholding humanitarian values.
