Biden may flex authority, use executive order to close southern border

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS CONSIDERING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

THE ACTION WOULD MIRROR A PROVISION IN THE FAILED BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION BILL THAT WOULD’VE ALLOWED THE PRESIDENT TO CLOSE THE BORDER ONCE ILLEGAL CROSSINGS HIT A DAILY AVERAGE OF FOUR THOUSAND FOR A WEEK.

THE BORDER WOULD BE REOPENED ONCE MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS FALL.

THE ORDER COULD COME AS SOON AS JUNE 2ND– A DAY AFTER THE MEXICAN ELECTIONS.

JUST FIVE MONTHS FROM THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, BIDEN IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO GET THE ONGOING BORDER CRISIS UNDER CONTROL.

MODERATE DEMOCRATS, SOME OF WHOM, ARE IN TIGHT RACES– WANT HIM TO TAKE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION.

WHILE REPUBLICANS CAMPAIGN ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY RISK POSED BY WHAT THEY SEE AS UNTAMED IMMIGRATION AND LAX BORDER ENFORCEMENT.

BORDER ENCOUNTERS HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

IN DECEMBER, MORE THAN 300-THOUSAND ENCOUNTERS WERE REPORTED BY BORDER PATROL. 

IN APRIL, MORE THAN 179-THOUSAND ENCOUNTERS WERE DOCUMENTED. THAT’S STILL AN AVERAGE OF AROUND 6,000 DAILY MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS.

ELECTION WATCHERS WARN BIDEN’S EXECUTIVE ACTION COULD ALSO ALIENATE LATINO VOTERS, CRUCIAL TO HIS REELECTION BID.

SOME HISPANIC VOTERS SAID THEY WORRY THE ORDER MAY SET A NEW PRECEDENT FOR THOSE SEEKING ASYLUM.

POTENTIALLY MAKING THE PROCESS MORE RESTRICTIVE.

HISPANIC CAUCUS LEADERSHIP MET WITH BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS LAST WEEK– RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT BIDEN’S OUTREACH TO LATINO VOTERS.

THEY URGED THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONSIDER OTHER ACTIONS.

LIKE EXPANDING WORK PERMITS FOR IMMIGRANTS ALREADY IN THE U-S.

BIDEN HAS SHIFTED TO A HARDER STANCE ON IMMIGRATION SINCE POLLING HAS SHOWN HIM FACING A TOUGH BATTLE FOR REELECTION AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION RANKING AS A TOP CONCERN FOR VOTERS.

FOR MORE STORIES ON THE SITUATION AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER–

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