Biden heads to border in El Paso amid surge in migrant crossings, rising GOP criticism
El Paso #ElPaso
Biden to migrants: ‘Do not just show up’ at border
SHARE
SHARE
TWEET
SHARE
What to watch next
UTEP men 70, Louisiana Tech 65
El Paso Times
UTEP reflects on non-conference schedule
El Paso Times
Migrants cross the Rio Grande from Juárez en mass in hopes of seeking asylum in the U.S.
El Paso Times
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Impact players for UCLA and Pitt
El Paso Times
Silver Alert: How you can help when a senior citizen is missing
El Paso Times
Jack Duran receives running water for the first time at Cochran colonia in Horizon City
El Paso Times
UTEP women 57, New Mexico State 52
El Paso Times
DHS Chief Mayorkas talk about end of Title 42 during his visit to the border in El Paso
El Paso Times
How to protect your pets in extreme cold
El Paso Times
UTEP women at New Mexico State preview
El Paso Times
Burglars steal catalytic convertors from El Paso school bus fleet
El Paso Times
Tae Hardy finds home at UTEP
El Paso Times
Casa Auto Group Vice President Luke Lowenfield talks about buying Crawford Buick GMC
El Paso Times
Morgahn Warner reflects on time with UTEP rifle team
El Paso Times
Hummingbird mural by Gabriel Marquez takes flight at Boys & Girls Club of El Paso
El Paso Times
Click to expand
UP NEXT
EL PASO, Texas – Facing criticism that he hasn’t done enough to stop illegal border crossings, President Joe Biden heads Sunday to the U.S.-Mexico border to assess the growing crisis and review enforcement operations.
Biden’s trip to the southern border – his first since he became president two years ago – comes amid a surge in mass migration at the border in El Paso, Texas. It also comes as Biden is preparing for two days of meetings in Mexico City with North American leaders to discuss immigration and other issues.
Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
Top takeaways
The number of migrants crossing the U.S. border with Mexico – some lawfully seeking asylum, others entering illegally – has risen dramatically during Biden’s first two years in office, generating a flood of criticism from Republicans who say his administration has been ineffective on border security.
More than 2.38 million migrant stops were reported during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the first time the number topped 2 million. U.S. Customs and Border Protection saw an average 1,800 migrant encounters per day in El Paso in December. The agency has reported more than 50,000 migrant encounters each in October, November and December.
Dozens of people – including many who crossed unlawfully after being barred from seeking asylum at the border – continue to sleep on streets in downtown El Paso. The city has provided buses for migrants to warm up in, and local faith and nonprofit organizations are providing meals.
State and local officials fear an even bigger influx of asylum seekers if the U.S. Supreme Court ends a Trump-era public health law that allows U.S. authorities to quickly expel migrants. Biden has tried to end the controversial Title 42 program, but Republicans have sued to keep the restrictions in place.
Just days before the restrictions were to expire, the Supreme Court ruled late last month that the administration cannot stop the expulsion of migrants under the program. The justices said they will hear arguments about the program in the upcoming year.
Biden’s new policy of turning back illegal migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti and Cuba will stand even if the Supreme Court overturns Title 42. At the same time, the U.S. said it would accept 30,000 migrants per month from those four nations for two years if they have eligible sponsors, pass vetting and background checks and don’t attempt to cross the southwest border.
Still, the new policy angered asylum and immigration advocates, who have had a rocky relationship with the president.
What they are saying
Why it matters
Biden is under pressure to detail his plans for dealing with a surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Border security is a top priority for Republicans, who took control of the House in the November midterm elections and have criticized the Democrat for not visiting the border. Republicans have also vowed to investigate the administration’s handling of the issue.
Biden said that while “extreme Republicans” will use immigration as a campaign issue, “now they have a choice. They can keep using immigration to try to score political points or they can help solve the problem…and come together to fix the broken system.”
Want to know more? Here’s what you missed.
Mexican captures son of infamous drug lord Arrest of El Chapo’s son Ovidio Guzman throws Mexico into chaos ahead of Biden visit
A blow to Biden’s ability to set immigration policy Supreme Court blocks Biden administration for now from ending migrant expulsions under Title 42
Crossing the southern border Migrants seeking asylum cross into the US
Border cities prepare for Title 42 battle, how to deal with grief 5 Things podcast
U.S. immigration The cost of immigrating to the US could get more expensive. Here’s what you need to know.
Contributing: USA Today’s Joey Garrison and The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden to visit El Paso border amid surge in migrant crossings, rising GOP criticism