President Biden’s Border Blackmail
A punitive ploy to force his version of immigration laws upon America
Americans have great concerns in 2024 as we approach the Presidential election, but one above all has leapfrogged to the fore in the minds of the citizens- what gives on our southern border, and why is the Biden Administration not enforcing our immigration laws? Did someone vote to open the border and let everyone in? The illegal immigration issue has arrived at the very top among voters’ concerns, above the economy, which is unheard of in America. The disapproval of the President’s handling of the border has become acute enough that he is attempting an election year gambit to ‘reform’ our immigration laws, when the issue is simply enforcing what is already the law.
Discontent is rising, spreading as rapidly as the movement of non-citizens throughout the country over our open southern border. Water entering a flood plain seeps inexorably into every nook and cranny of the dry landscape. This is the pattern of the illegal arrivals who have become so numerous these last three years, they are now showing up openly in Boston, Chicago and throughout the northern realms of the land. It has become an explosion large enough to escape containment and efforts to conceal.
In New York City, a group of newly arrived young males attacked and beat two members of the NYPD in broad daylight, were arrested and all but one released the next day. They are filmed making obscene hand gestures and laughing as they walk out of custody. Thank you America, they seem to be saying. You can enter our country illegally, beat up law enforcement officers in the streets, and then walk away? When did that become acceptable?
In the poor community of Roxbury in Boston, a heavily used youth recreation center has been closed to make a migrant shelter for the new non-citizen residents. Free room and board, free healthcare, and free transportation while the kids in the neighborhood are forced into the streets. An African American mother of four laments she has compassion for those from other rough countries, does not wish them ill, but what about her native-born children and herself? Who is this policy intended to help? The answer is so cynical we do not really wish to believe it.
Many once believed the choice between Republican and Democrat did not amount to a real difference. Either way, large corporations would prosper, and politicians would get rich off their ‘work’ for the people. The minor philosophical differences were such that life usually went on regardless of who was in charge. Those days are gone, and we have before us the most consequential decision about our future perhaps since 1860. The Democrat Party under President Biden has moved so sharply away from the historical left-center to be unrecognizable. Do not forget this address from the extremely popular Democrat President Bill Clinton, in his 1995 State of the Union address. Listen to his arguments. “We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws.” Note the enthusiastic applause at the end of what was a widely accepted viewpoint at the time with broad bipartisan and national support.
How do we explain this border opening policy?
You may dislike Donald Trump, but to deny this extreme shift of the Democrats does a great disservice to the millions of lower income Americans and minorities who are most directly hurt by these open borders. A secure and managed border was not President Trump’s idea, it was the idea of the founding fathers who enshrined it in our original documents. The point is that America is governed for the benefit of its citizens first, while understanding the value of a vibrant managed legal immigration system. This immigration allows the best and brightest from around the world to assimilate into our fabric and extend our national capabilities. We also understood that our prosperity and freedoms would attract the masses from places lacking them, so a compassionate policy was needed that would not dilute the lives of American citizens.
We realized that we simply cannot afford to admit all those from poorer nations, who constitute the entirety of the rest of the world. Do we offer first come- first served? It was decided the best we can do to inspire other nations is to lead by example and assist where we can, but the rights of U.S. citizens come first. We would allow our system to shine, based upon the rule of law and administered with checks and balances against corruption and coercion. A system so brilliantly conceived but requiring an upright and moral people to sustain.
We created an exemption for those fleeing persecution in their homelands, those with a well-founded fear for their safety were they to return home. We expressly declared that neither economic disadvantage nor simply improving the quality of life were acceptable rationale for admission to America. If migrants were truly escaping from dangerous persecutions in their home country, wouldn’t they be perfectly safe in any of the multiple countries they pass through on the way to the U.S.? If so, our law says they are not allowed in. This position has never been officially changed nor adjusted, despite the millions now streaming over our border for those very reasons.
What changed?
The process for those claiming persecution is straightforward. The claim would be filed at the border, and a notice would be given to appear for a hearing before a judge to resolve the question. Is the claim of persecution reasonable, which would allow admission to America? For decades this was a mostly sleepy process, as it was understood that one could not just enter the U.S. and live because one wished. President Trump ran for office in 2016 partly on the issue of securing the border further and preventing future surges over unprotected boundaries.
Most importantly, as more immigrants turned up and declared themselves under persecution, it became apparent many were simply hoping to be released into the United States with a promise to return for the court hearing some years off. President Trump understood that this created an irresistible incentive to make it to the border, file for asylum and disappear into the country. He instituted a “remain in Mexico” provision whereby those awaiting their hearings would wait outside of the U.S. prior to determining if they would be allowed in to stay. Far more consistent with the law and extinguishes in one fell swoop the perverse incentive to dash for our border.
Sadly, President Biden immediately reversed the “remain in Mexico” policy, in effect encouraging all to present themselves at the border with the opportunity to come in, make themselves comfortable and we will try to reach them in a handful of years when their court date is up. This green lighted non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world to create and fund an increasingly organized flow of immigrants from all over to make a mad dash for the border while it remains open. It excited our enemies who would destabilize us, sending terrorists and criminal elements to mix in with the ordinary impoverished.
Who benefits from this open border?
Mexican drug cartels are the primary beneficiaries, as nearly all the 8- 10 million or more who have crossed since 2021 and will continue this year come escorted through Mexico to the border. Many trek up from South America through the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama, before jumping on buses and then trains all the way to the U.S. border. If you can make it to South America, you can make it into the U.S.A. Hotels in Ecuador, Colombia and other countries along the route are full now of migrants supported by the NGOs. Cartels are making more money off human smuggling during this open border era than they do off drugs themselves, while continuing to smuggle fentanyl and other drugs on the side.
Our international adversaries, including China, Russia, and Iran also benefit from chaos at our border and the rising instability it brings within. Our terrorist enemies benefit from the opportunities to smuggle in cells of fighters to meet up with comrades already established in the country. Single military-aged males now constitute a substantial portion of those streaming across. From Africa, Asia including China, and the Middle East in addition to the South Americans. There seems to be no limit to who is coming now.
Election year policy shifts are never sincere
Finally, and most cynically without other reasonable justification, we assume the Democrat Party hopes to benefit as well. The hope is that the millions of new arrivals will one day be granted citizenship or voting rights, and when that occurs, they will demonstrate their gratitude and produce a permanent ruling party. The present negotiations on a ‘border deal’ in Congress are designed to create the ruse that President Biden will close the border if the Republicans would just give in on funding the unpopular Ukraine war and accepting that some slowing in the flood of illegal arrivals is a victory. Start the fire, then offer to put out some of it, while asking us to be grateful.
Yes, he is offering to uphold the oath of office to which he swore if the Republicans will give in to his other wishes that cannot gain popular support. Rather than enforcing the law and putting Americans first, it is a cynical form of blackmail that damages average Americans, poor Americans and all those just trying to get along the best they can. Election year policy changes are never sincere, and we should carefully consider this vision for our future and its producers.