Why Has the Biden-Harris Administration Refused to Secure Our Border?

The Biden Border Crisis: A National Security and Public Safety Emergency

The situation at the U.S. southern border has reached unprecedented levels of crisis under the Biden Administration. In just three years, policies that critics call “radical open-borders immigration policies” have led to record-breaking illegal entries, overwhelmed border enforcement, and a dismantling of immigration enforcement within the country. Let’s break down the gravity of the border crisis and its implications for national security, public safety, and the future of immigration policy in America.

Record-Breaking Border Encounters

Under President Biden, illegal crossings have surged to historic levels. In September 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered a staggering 269,735 illegal aliens at the southwest border, a new record that shattered previous highs. But the crisis didn’t stop there. By December 2023, the number of encounters had ballooned to over 302,000 in a single month​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…).

To put this in perspective, since the start of the Biden Administration, more than 6 million illegal aliens have been encountered at the southern border​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…). These numbers are a direct result of policies that have incentivized illegal migration, with little to no deterrence. Americans are left to question whether this influx is a symptom of policy failure or, as some suggest, a deliberate feature of the Administration’s immigration strategy.

Release of Millions into U.S. Communities

One of the most alarming aspects of the current border crisis is the mass release of illegal aliens into American communities. Under Biden’s watch, more than 3.3 million illegal aliens have been released into the U.S. since January 2021​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…). In December 2023 alone, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials privately admitted that an average of 5,000 illegal aliens were being released into the U.S. each day​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…). According to Secretary of DHS Alejandro Mayorkas, over 85% of illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border are being released into the U.S.​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…).

With such massive numbers of undocumented individuals being introduced into communities without proper vetting, the risks to public safety, national security, and economic stability grow each day. The burden on local governments, social services, and law enforcement has reached unsustainable levels.

Failure of Interior Immigration Enforcement

While millions of illegal aliens are released into the country, the Biden Administration has systematically weakened interior immigration enforcement. By September 2023, at least 3.1 million illegal aliens remained in the U.S. without any confirmed departure, and over 1.7 million "gotaways"—individuals who evaded capture—have entered the country during Biden’s tenure​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…). The Administration's failure to track or remove these individuals only compounds the crisis.

Further exacerbating the issue, over 617,607 aliens with criminal convictions or pending criminal charges remain free within the U.S., with some areas, like Miami and New York City, seeing hundreds of thousands of criminal aliens living in their jurisdictions​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…). These individuals pose a direct threat to public safety, and yet, immigration enforcement officers have been stripped of the resources and authority they need to act.

Minimal Removals: A Dangerous Trend

Despite the surge in illegal entries, the number of removals has plummeted. Between January 2021 and September 2023, the Biden Administration removed only 10,522 illegal aliens who had been placed in removal proceedings by an immigration judge. This figure accounts for just 0.3% of the more than 3.3 million illegal aliens released into the country​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…).

This lack of enforcement sends a clear message to those considering crossing the border illegally: once inside the U.S., the chances of being deported are virtually nonexistent. Even for those who fail to make an asylum claim or have criminal convictions, the removal rates are shockingly low.

Criminal Aliens Released Into Communities

The report details a severe drop in the removal of criminal aliens under the Biden Administration. In fiscal year 2023, ICE removed 41% fewer aliens with criminal convictions compared to 2020, and nearly 60% fewer than in 2019​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…). This decrease in removals, combined with a growing population of illegal aliens on ICE’s non-detained docket, means more criminal aliens are free to roam American streets, creating further dangers to public safety.

For instance, in Miami alone, over 69,000 criminal aliens remain non-detained, with other cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta also facing similar challenges​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…). The Biden Administration’s refusal to enforce immigration laws has put American citizens at risk by allowing individuals with dangerous criminal histories to remain in the country unchecked.

The Need for Legislative Reform

The report calls for urgent legislative action to address the Biden border crisis. In May 2023, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, aimed at restoring border security and interior enforcement. Despite the clear evidence of a worsening crisis, the Senate has yet to pass the bill, and President Biden has not committed to signing it into law.

In the face of such a massive national security and humanitarian challenge, it is crucial for lawmakers to act swiftly. Strengthening border enforcement, reinstating interior immigration enforcement, and prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens are vital steps to safeguarding the future of the country.

Conclusion: Time for Action

The Biden Administration's approach to immigration has led to a full-blown crisis at the southern border. Millions of illegal aliens have entered the U.S., with many released into communities without adequate screening or tracking. Interior enforcement has been gutted, allowing criminal aliens to remain in the country. The American people deserve better.

It is time for Congress and the President to take action to secure the border, enforce immigration laws, and protect the safety and well-being of all Americans. Every day of inaction only deepens the crisis.

Sources:

• Committee on the Judiciary Report, New Data Reveal Worsening Magnitude of the Biden Border Crisis and Lack of Interior Immigration Enforcement​(2024-01-18-new-data-rev…).s