Migrants stationed at the southern border of the United States, in anticipation of entering the country, have voiced a preference for President Joe Biden’s re-election in the upcoming November polls. Their apprehension revolves around the belief that a return of former President Donald Trump to the White House could significantly diminish their chances of being allowed entry into the U.S.
Among those expressing concern is 46-year-old Richard Betancourt, a pipe fitter, who, alongside hundreds of others, is awaiting the opportunity to cross the border at an encampment in Matamoros, Mexico. Betancourt conveyed his worries, stating that under a Trump administration, regardless of his willingness and capability to work, he believes he wouldn’t be granted entry into the country. Similarly, Alejandra Falcon, a 26-year-old migrant who journeyed from Caracas, Venezuela, to the border over eight months, expressed her inability to envision the outcomes should Biden fail to secure re-election.
These migrants’ fears stem from Trump’s previous immigration policies during his tenure, which aimed at reducing the inflow of refugees and green card recipients, alongside attempts to construct a border wall. Despite these efforts, Trump’s administration saw fewer deportations of undocumented migrants compared to the Obama administration.
The Biden era, however, has witnessed a surge in illegal border crossings, reaching a record high of 2.2 million in 2022. Since Biden assumed office in 2021, nearly 7.3 million migrants have illegally crossed into the U.S. through the southwest border, a figure exceeding the population of 36 U.S. states.
Biden initially aimed to rescind Title 42, a policy allowing migrants to be turned away at the border. Currently, migrants claiming a “credible fear” of returning to their home countries are permitted entry into the U.S., receiving a court appearance ticket. However, the length of time before their cases are heard, coupled with their freedom to travel across the country, complicates efforts to monitor their whereabouts.
Trump, in his campaign, has criticized Biden’s border management, attributing to it a “border bloodbath” and associating migrants with significant crimes in major cities. This stance has seemingly resonated with voters, as evidenced by a March AP-NORC poll revealing that nearly 70% of voters disapprove of Biden’s handling of the border issue.
In response to growing voter concerns and in an attempt to regain support, Biden declared in January his intention to “shut down the border until it could get back under control.” This statement was part of an effort to gather bipartisan support for a Senate bill that included border security funding. However, the bill failed to pass, with Democrats attributing the failure to Republicans’ desire to maintain the border issue as a talking point for the November election.
The Biden campaign and the White House have since clarified their stance on border security, emphasizing their commitment to a balanced, bipartisan approach to border management, which they argue contrasts with Congressional Republicans’ position, influenced by Trump’s political interests. The Biden administration asserts its achievements in border security and management, highlighting the removal or return of more individuals in 10 months than any year under the Trump administration.