More than 1,000 migrants wait to be processed by Border Patrol agents after crossing the Rio Grande on Monday in Eagle Pass, Texas. A surge of as many as 12,000 immigrants per day crossing the US-Mexico border has overwhelmed US authorities in recent weeks.
CNN —
When it comes to the US-Mexico border, there’s often so much noise that it’s hard to hear — and see — what’s really going on.
I’ve coveredimmigrationfor more than a decade, through three different presidential administrations and through many different moments when people on all sides of the issue have warned of crisis conditions and authorities have appeared overwhelmed.
That’s happening once again. But a few different factors make this moment feel different. The situation is intensifying on several fronts that could have significant consequences both in everyday people’s lives and on the national political stage.
Here are five big reasons why it’s important to pay attention to what’s going on right now:
1.Many people rely onports of entry along the border. And we’ve seen a growing number of them closing.
In the past few weeks, the Biden administration has closed ports of entry to pedestrians or vehicles in Eagle Pass, Texas; Lukeville, Arizona; and San Ysidro, California.
On Sunday, officials announced they’d also be temporarily shutting down international railway crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso.
Why is this happening? Officials say the number of migrants illegally crossing the border in some locations is increasing so significantly that they need to divert resources from ports of entry to handle the influx.
A US Border Patrol agent speaks with immigrants at a transit center near the US-Mexico border on Tuesday in Eagle Pass, Texas. Most had crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico the night before.
US Customs and Border Protection blames misinformation from transnational criminal organizations and cartels for the recent spike. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens told CNN’s Rosa Flores recently that agents are “simply overwhelmed” and noted that closing the ports had freed up employees to help process migrants, but also came at a cost.
“It’s a consequence to our lawful trade and travel. Everybody’s feeling it right now,” he said.
Local officials say the port closures are having a devastating economic and personal impact on communities.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, said in a news release that the decision to close the port in her state “has led to an unmitigated crisis in the area and putArizona’s safety and commerce at risk.”
2.Trump is makingimmigrationa central focus of his campaign once again. But the words he’s using are changing.
Former President Donald Trump kicked off his 2016 election campaign with notorious comments describing Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists. And in the leadup to the 2024 election, he appears to be doubling down.
As my colleague Zachary B. Wolf has noted recently, Trump’s “increasingly harsh language demonizing migrants” is reaching new extremes.
In a New Hampshire rally over the weekend, Trump drew comparisons to the language of Nazi Germany with comments about migrants from mostly Africa, Asia and South America “poisoning the blood of our country.”
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally Saturday in Durham, New Hampshire.
The next day, Trump claimed, without evidence, that migrants are largely coming to the US from prisons and mental institutions. And he promised to reorient the US government to purge migrants.
Cracking down on illegalimmigrationwas a focus of Trump’s presidency, and there’s little doubt he’d prioritize the issue once again if reelected.
3. Biden seems ready to support the kinds of restrictions he previously criticized.
Before his election in 2020, President Joe Biden repeatedly vowed to roll back the immigration policies of his predecessor. But in the push to get Congress to approve more aid for Ukraine, the Biden administration has signaled a willingness to implement major restrictions that echo changes pursue by the Trump administration.
Negotiations are ongoing. But proposals under consideration include turning back migrants at the US-Mexico border without giving them the chance to seek asylum, expanding a fast-track deportation procedure to include more undocumented immigrants, and raising the credible fear standard for asylum seekers, sources told CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez and Camila DeChalus.
And immigrantrights groups are releasing increasingly frantic statements, decrying what they see as Biden’s willingness to trade away the lives of vulnerable people who are legally entitled to seekasylum. Frustrated by the lack of attention the issue was getting, RAICES said this week that it had bought a seven-story digital billboard ad displaying a shackled Lady Liberty in Times Square warning that “the end of asylum is dangerously near.”
For its part, the Biden administration is defending its track record, with a White House official telling CNN that the administration has led the largest expansion of legal immigration pathways in decades.
But advocates and some lawmakers say Biden is running the risk of losing support from key allies if he makes the concessions he’s reported to be considering.
“If he does go too far in the Trump direction, it’s going to be felt at the ballot box next year, no doubt about it,” Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla told CNN’s Manu Raju.
4. States are taking matters into their own hands. And the potential impact of a new law in Texas is huge.
Frustrated by what they call the federal government’s failure to secure the border, some state leaders are trying to take matters into their own hands. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican and outspoken critic of Biden, signed a new law this week that makes entering the state illegally a state crime, gives local law enforcement the power to arrest migrants and gives judges in the state the ability to issue orders removing them to Mexico.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs three bills into law at a border wall construction site in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday, including a controversial measure that makes entering Texas illegally a state crime and gives local law enforcement the power to arrest migrants.
The stated aim of the law, which is scheduled to go into effect in March, is cracking down on illegal immigration. Advocates call the law unconstitutional and argue that it will fuel racial profiling in Texas, where 40% of residents are Latino.
The Republican author of the Texas bill has maintained that the measure is constitutional. But state officials may soon have to make their case for the new law in court.
Civil rights groups just filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to block it.
On the day Abbott signed the bill, protesters nearby said they were already afraid of the impact it could have on their communities.
5. In the US, the‘border’is everywhere.
Theborderisn’t just the 1,933-mile line that divides the US and Mexico. It’s something that can be seen in communities across the US.
And for months, we’ve heard many mayors –— including prominent Democratic leaders — saying their cities are struggling to handle an influx of migrants.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said earlier this year that the migrant crisis would “destroy” the city.
And an order he signed could soon lead to the eviction of thousands of migrants from city shelters as part of Adams’ plan to enforce a new 60-day limit for families. A similar 30-day rule for single adults has been in place for several weeks. Families who receive eviction notices can return to the city’s intake center to re-apply for a new shelter spot.
City officials say they need more support from the federal government, and Adams has said the city’s budget will have to be significantly cut in order to meet the needs of the ongoing crisis.
Migrants line up outside the Jacob Javits Federal Building in downtown Manhattan on December 5.
The continuing pushback from local leaders in his own party could have political implications for Biden heading into the 2024 election, and may be one reason why these days, he appears more open to taking a tougher stance.
Any one of these storylines alone is significant news.
Looking at them all together, it’s clear things have reached a crescendo that’s impossible to ignore.
In the coming months, I’ll be watching what’s happening at the border closely.
Many things about the future are uncertain, but there’s no doubt that what we hear and see unfolding there is going to be a big part of the conversation in 2024.
CNN’s Rosa Flores, Sara Weisfeldt, Priscilla Alvarez, Camila DeChalus, Zachary B. Wolf and Gloria Pazminocontributed to this report.
As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or emotions like a human, but I can provide information on a wide range of topics. I have access to a vast amount of data and can generate responses based on that information. I can help answer questions, provide explanations, and engage in discussions on various subjects.
Now, let's discuss the concepts mentioned in the article you provided:
Ports of Entry Closing
The Biden administration has closed several ports of entry along the US-Mexico border due to the significant increase in the number of migrants illegally crossing the border in some locations. This has led to the diversion of resources from ports of entry to handle the influx of migrants. The closures have had a devastating economic and personal impact on communities, as stated by local officials and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs .
Trump's Focus on Immigration
Former President Donald Trump has made immigration a central focus of his campaign once again. However, the language he is using has become increasingly harsh, with comparisons to Nazi Germany and claims that migrants are coming from prisons and mental institutions. Trump's focus on cracking down on illegal immigration was a key aspect of his presidency, and it is likely that he would prioritize this issue if reelected.
Biden's Support for Restrictions
President Joe Biden, who previously vowed to roll back the immigration policies of his predecessor, has signaled a willingness to implement major restrictions on immigration. These include turning back migrants at the US-Mexico border without giving them the chance to seek asylum, expanding fast-track deportation procedures, and raising the credible fear standard for asylum seekers. Immigrant rights groups have expressed concern over these potential restrictions and have criticized Biden's willingness to trade away the lives of vulnerable people who are legally entitled to seek asylum.
States Taking Matters into Their Own Hands
Some state leaders, frustrated by what they perceive as the federal government's failure to secure the border, are taking matters into their own hands. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, for example, signed a new law that makes entering the state illegally a state crime, gives local law enforcement the power to arrest migrants, and allows judges to issue orders removing them to Mexico. This law has faced legal challenges, with civil rights groups filing a lawsuit to block it .
Impact on Communities Across the US
The impact of the border situation is not limited to the US-Mexico border itself. Mayors and city officials across the US, including prominent Democratic leaders, have expressed concerns about their cities struggling to handle an influx of migrants. For example, New York Mayor Eric Adams has signed orders that could lead to the eviction of thousands of migrants from city shelters. Local leaders' pushback on the issue could have political implications for President Biden heading into the 2024 election.
These are the key concepts mentioned in the article you provided. If you have any specific questions or would like more information on any of these topics, feel free to ask!
