Amid Bipartisan Criticism of Immigration Policy... Biden's First Visit to Mexico Border

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] U.S. President Joe Biden visited the Mexico border area for the first time since his inauguration on the 8th (local time), amid criticism from both the Democratic and Republican parties over immigration issues.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), AP News, and others, President Biden arrived in El Paso, Texas, a border city, in the afternoon. This visit was scheduled ahead of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trilateral summit held in Mexico City.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Upon arriving in El Paso in the afternoon, President Biden inspected the current situation of illegal immigrant crackdowns and received reports from officials regarding illegal immigration and the influx of drugs such as fentanyl through the Mexico border. El Paso is an area where illegal immigrants from Nicaragua, Venezuela, Haiti, and Cuba have surged since the Biden administration took office. As of the end of September last year, the estimated number of people caught crossing the border illegally was 2.2 million. AP News reported that "it is uncertain whether President Biden will meet and talk directly with immigrants."

This border area visit took place amid backlash from both ruling and opposition parties over the Biden administration's immigration policy. The Republican Party has criticized the Biden administration for not focusing enough on immigration issues and has demanded President Biden visit the border area. Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas, who is constructing container barriers near El Paso, mentioned on Twitter that it was time for President Biden to come.

Local media interpreted President Biden's visit to the border area as an effort to ease domestic criticism that he is too lenient toward illegal immigrants ahead of his official announcement to run in the 2024 presidential election. Illegal immigration issues and the influx of fentanyl through the border are also major agenda items at the North American leaders' summit scheduled for the 9th and 10th. President Biden will leave Texas in the evening and move to Mexico. This will also be his first visit to Mexico since taking office.

After illegal immigrant caravans continued at the border area following his inauguration, President Biden recently announced plans to expand the existing 'Title 42' policy, which immediately expels illegal immigrants citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19. On the 5th, President Biden announced in a national address that Title 42, previously applied to illegal immigrants from Mexico, Venezuela, and others, would be extended to include Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti.

Even President Biden, who had criticized the anti-immigration policies of the previous Donald Trump administration and declared he would reverse them, has ultimately decided to take a tough stance on immigration issues.

However, as criticism intensified mainly from the Democratic Party regarding the continuation of former Trump administration policies, President Biden simultaneously announced that he would accept 30,000 legal immigrants per month. Progressive members of Congress, including Representative Pramila Jayapal, issued a statement calling the expansion of Title 42 an "unacceptable concern" and urged reconsideration of the plan.