2024-04-08 22:37:23
Foto: Paul Froggatt | Shutterstock
Text: Editorial Cuba Noticias 360
US President Joe Biden confirmed his intention to “close the border” between his country and Mexico if Congress grants him the authority to do so through the approval of a legislative project that has been negotiated in recent weeks between Republican senators and Democrats.
In a speech during a Democratic Party dinner in South Carolina, Biden assured that “if that bill were approved as law, it would close the border right now.”
In addition, the president expressed his support for the initiative of senators from both parties, which he described as “the toughest and smartest border security project in history.”
This weekend, the White House representative said on his X account that “for everyone demanding stricter border control, this is the way to do it” and immediately left his “full statement on the negotiations.” border security.”
International media recall that these statements represent a significant change not only in Biden’s tone, but also in the traditional position of the Democratic Party on immigration, an issue that is beginning to gain more importance in his re-election campaign.
For example, The Washington Post noted that when Biden talks about “closing the border” he is referring to a clause included in the legislative project that would allow migrants to be expelled when arrests on the border with Mexico exceed 5,000 during a period of time. five-day average.
The American media adds that under this clause, the majority of migrants who cross the border irregularly would not be able to request asylum, according to sources familiar with the text of the project, and it would allow the indefinite expulsion of migrants until detentions at the border decrease to less 3,750 per day.
For its part, the EFE news agency announced that, although the text of the legislative project is not yet public, the senators have said that it is expected to be released this week.
This border agreement, EFE adds, is part of a broader package of measures that are being negotiated in Congress, which includes new aid funds for Ukraine and Israel, “items that are a priority for Biden and whose approval has already been approved.” asked Congress in October.”
Republicans have refused to approve this aid unless changes are made to the immigration and asylum system, a reason that has allegedly led Biden and members of Congress to maintain the current position on closing the border.
It is worth remembering that in January 2023, the US president approved a series of changes in immigration policy with the aim of stopping illegal migration and creating avenues for the arrival of immigrants to the US on a regular basis.
Among these is the Humanitarian Parole Program that has benefited thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans. However, at the end of 2023 arrests on the border with Mexico for unauthorized crossings reached an all-time high.
According to figures provided by the Border Patrol, 249,785 arrests were made on the border last December, 13% more than the 222,018 in December 2022, when the historical maximum had been reached.