Republicans will have a lot of work to do once they retake Congress in the upcoming congressional elections. Jobs and the economy are voters’ top priorities. But immigration remains a critical issue, especially because of President Joe Biden’s ongoing migrant crisis. House Republicans have developed a strategy to undo the damage done by the president when they control the lower chamber. But with Biden still in the White House, can they succeed?
The Washington Times reported that Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) would lead an effort to stop the White House from releasing illegal immigrants into the United States. The report explains:
Rep. Jim Jordan, who is poised to become chairman of the Judiciary Committee if the GOP wins back the majority in November, said he wants next year’s spending bill to include language to block the administration’s actions that have resulted in the release of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants into the U.S. since President Biden took office last year.
“You cannot let people into the country who are not allowed to be here,” said Mr. Jordan, Ohio Republican.
Jordan and his colleagues are banking on the idea that including the language in must-pass spending legislation might be the best bet. Biden will have to force a government shutdown, if his administration takes issue with the immigration provision. The GOP typically does not fare well when there is a shutdown, but it could turn out differently this time around.
The Biden administration has received harsh criticism for its handling of legal and illegal immigration. Shortly after taking office; the president reversed most of former President Donald Trump’s border security measures, which led to the highest surge of migrants at the southern border that the country has seen in decades. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has struggled to keep up with the flow of migrants and unaccompanied minors, and many illegals have been apprehended attempting to gain entry into the country.
The White House has also been criticized for halting deportations and flying illegal aliens into various parts of the country. In effect, it has resurrected the “catch and release” policies of previous administrations, which has made it easier for illegals to remain in the country. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), told the Washington Times, “Basically, their position is we can let in anybody we want, period, and it doesn’t matter what Congress says.”
Biden will almost certainly veto any measure designed to stem the flow of migrants into the United States. Even still, this gambit is likely the best that Republicans can do at the moment. “When the president is of the other party, the power of the purse is all you have,” Krikorian pointed out. However, this does not mean that the administration will be able to continue its open borders efforts unopposed.
Later this year, the Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling deciding whether the White House can continue refusing to implement the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), also known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy. The measure requires migrants with asylum claims to wait in Mexico until a ruling is made on their cases. But the White House has ignored this policy and has released these individuals into the U.S.
Even further, Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has made it harder for federal authorities to deport those who cross the border illegally. The Hill reported:
Biden’s DHS secretary, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, issued enforcement guidelines that replace the deportable alien grounds in INA section 1227 with priority categories that restrict deportation to immigrants who are a threat to our national security, to public safety, or to border security.
Mayorkas explained that the majority of undocumented immigrants who are subject to removal have been contributing members of our communities for years; therefore, the fact that an immigrant is removable should not alone be the basis for an enforcement action.
If Biden forces a government shutdown over the immigration issue, it might actually work in Republicans’ favor. Most Americans agree that his handling of the immigration issue has been rather abysmal. A Harris Poll conducted in late February showed that the president’s approval rating related to immigration had plummeted to a paltry 32 percent. To put it simply, the majority of Americans agree with the GOP on immigration.
Jordan’s move is a long shot. As stated previously, even with control of the House, Republicans will have a hard time forcing the administration to take immigration seriously. But this could also play in their favor in 2024, especially if the problem worsens over the next two years.
