Texas Officials React To Biden’s Border Restrictions

President Joe Biden unveiled stringent new asylum restrictions on Tuesday, flanked by Texas officials from U.S.-Mexico border communities, aiming to curb the surge of migrants entering the country illegally.

The Dallas Morning News reported that the restrictions will take effect when average daily encounters of immigrants at the border surpass 2,500, and will continue until the daily average falls below 1,500 encounters.

People seeking to enter the country will not be eligible to seek asylum while the restrictions are activated. Exceptions include unaccompanied minors and individuals facing immediate threats to life or acute medical emergencies.

“This does not, obviously, fix our entire system, but this is a step in the right direction to try to help us cope with this issue,” Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza said.

While emphasizing the need for bipartisan immigration legislation, Biden criticized Republicans for obstructing legislative efforts and leaving him with no choice but to implement executive orders. Despite bipartisan support for border security proposals earlier this year, most Senate Republicans rejected them.

“But Republicans have left me with no choice,” Biden said.

“It should have been done three years ago, but we can’t really go back in time,” Brownsville Mayor John Cowen said. “I’m just glad actions are being taken.”

Local leaders from border communities, including mayors and congressmen, joined Biden for the announcement, emphasizing the nonpartisan nature of border issues.

“This action will not entirely solve this crisis but we are here because of Ted Cruz’s efforts to block any solution to our broken immigration system,” said U.S. Rep Colin Allred, who is looking to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz in the general election. “There is no substitute for comprehensive Congressional action to secure our border and get Texas border communities the resources they need.”

However, Texas Republicans dismissed Biden’s measures as insufficient and politically motivated, arguing that they fail to address the root causes of the border crisis.

“He has absolutely no intention of actually enforcing any of this,” U.S. Sen. John Cornyn from Texas said. “This is not an improvement. This is a fig leaf. And I think the American people are not going to be fooled.”

Republicans are also accusing Biden of using the border to gain more votes, while some progressive Democrats have said Biden is using a strategy proposed bye former President Donald Trump.

According to the Associated Press, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said she was “profoundly disappointed” by the executive order. She also said the order “means that we have people, desperate people seeking asylum who should be able to apply, and yet they will not be able to.”

Despite mixed reactions, border mayors welcomed Biden’s actions as a step in the right direction, hoping they will encourage migrants to pursue legal pathways for entry.