In April 1980, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush participated in a presidential forum in Houston where they discussed illegal immigration. Reagan proposed allowing legal work permits for immigrants to come and work in the U.S. while paying taxes, and Bush acknowledged the need to address the issue.
Fast forward to the present day, where the Republican Party calls for the deportation of illegal migrants and strict border security measures in their platform. Democrats have also shifted towards more restrictive policies, with President Biden taking executive actions to tighten border controls.
The current border politics reflect a lack of updated immigration policies to address the changing patterns of migration. Border crackdowns may seem like an easy solution, but they fail to consider the complexity of issues such as drug trafficking, national security, and economic concerns.
The situation at the border has worsened as politicians and voters become more entrenched in their views, leading to a toxic debate. Without meaningful updates to immigration laws, the challenges at the border will continue to escalate.
A Different Era
Following the 1980s, unauthorized migration along the U.S.-Mexico border increased significantly, with apprehensions surpassing 1 million annually by the mid-2000s. This marked the beginning of a modern era of migration characterized by a diverse migrant population.
The approach to border security during this time reflected the demographics of migrants crossing the border, mainly young Mexican males seeking work opportunities in the U.S. However, the influx of migrants from various countries in the 2010s highlighted the need for a new approach to border management.
In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) aimed to address illegal immigration through a bipartisan compromise. The law legalized millions of undocumented immigrants while increasing border enforcement measures. Despite mixed results, the IRCA demonstrated bipartisan support for comprehensive immigration reform.
Seen as a one-time measure, the amnesty was highly debated due to the five-year gap between the qualifying date and the law’s enactment, leaving settled immigrants without status. Critics believed it encouraged more migration in anticipation of future amnesties. The act was controversial for granting immigration benefits to those who entered the U.S. illegally without achieving promised border control.
The 1990s saw tougher border discussions, with President Clinton emphasizing the need for enhanced border security measures. Collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico increased, leading to more resources devoted to border security. The 1996 law established modern deportation protocols but faced backlash for focusing solely on illegal immigration.
The 2000s saw a shift in border enforcement post-9/11, with increased emphasis on anti-terrorism measures. The Secure Fence Act of 2006 authorized border fencing and defined operational control as preventing all unlawful entries into the U.S. While the bill had bipartisan support and Mexico-focused enforcement, it set the tone for future border management expectations.
Efforts for immigration reform in the mid-2000s aimed to address border security, citizenship paths for unauthorized migrants, and a guest worker program. However, reform bills failed to pass, leading to continued migration despite partially successful enforcement tactics during the first era of border security.
The 2010s saw changing migration patterns, with Central Americans outnumbering Mexicans at the border. The shift from single males seeking work to unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers posed new challenges for border enforcement. The mismatch between existing border apparatus and the new form of mass migration led to difficulties in managing the influx of migrants from various countries seeking humanitarian protection. To apply for asylum or other protections based on persecution or negative conditions in their home country, migrants must make their claim on U.S. soil or at a port of entry. They must pass a “credible fear” test before their case can proceed to an immigration court. While waiting for their asylum cases to be reviewed, applicants are typically released into the country and allowed to attend school and work.
Immigration courts were already facing significant backlogs before the influx of migrants in 2014, leading to longer wait times for cases to be heard. This uncertainty meant that asylum seekers could spend years building lives in the U.S. without knowing their fate.
Efforts to overhaul the immigration system, such as the bipartisan bill proposed by the “Gang of Eight” in 2013, faced challenges in Congress. Although the bill passed the Senate, it was not taken up by the House, leading to a lack of progress on comprehensive immigration reform.
The political climate around immigration became increasingly polarized, making compromise on immigration issues less likely. This polarization, along with shifts in leadership, contributed to a lack of legislative action on immigration reform.
The Trump administration’s approach to immigration, including harsh border policies and family separations, marked a departure from previous practices. Congressional inaction on immigration contributed to the administration’s use of executive authority to address border issues.
The Trump administration’s policies, such as the “zero-tolerance” program and expulsions under Title 42, did not deter migrants from coming to the border. Despite efforts to increase border security, the administration faced record numbers of apprehensions.
The use of Title 42 to expel migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic was seen as a political move rather than a public health necessity. This shift in policy further exacerbated existing challenges at the border. Under the order, millions of migrants were expelled, a policy that continued under President Biden until 2022. As a result, repeat border crossings spiked.
The expectations of what a president could and should do at the border had shifted significantly. Bipartisan consensus on the issue was disappearing, and compromise was increasingly seen as a political liability. The public now had a reference point when it came to border control – a time when the president simply “shut down the border” and it appeared to be effective.
Despite his tough rhetoric, Trump faced border chaos during his time in office. The number of migrants entering the country illegally without being apprehended by the Border Patrol increased each year of his presidency. This underscores the lesson that even strict enforcement measures have their limits in the modern era, a lesson that Biden seemed to have missed.
Biden, while in office, maintained many of Trump’s border policies as border crossings rose. He kept the Title 42 order in place, allowed border wall construction to continue in South Texas, and revived aspects of his predecessor’s transit ban. This approach failed to address the root causes of the refugee crisis in the region.
A bipartisan border bill was introduced earlier this year but ultimately failed to pass due to political gridlock. The inability to reach a compromise highlighted the paralysis in Congress when it comes to addressing immigration issues.
Critics argued that Biden had the authority to close the border without congressional approval, a point proven when he unveiled sweeping asylum restrictions at the Mexican border. This move mirrored Trump’s approach to border control, focusing on toughness over legality and sensibility.
The situation at the border has become increasingly complex, with a growing number of migrants coming from countries other than Mexico and the Northern Triangle. Until lawmakers adjust to this new reality, the border will remain chaotic, ripe for misrepresentation and political manipulation.
As Congress continues to fail in updating border management tools, the burden falls on the executive branch to address border issues. This has led to a perception that the border can and should be controlled through executive fiat, giving Congress an excuse to shirk its responsibilities.
In conclusion, the toxic nature of border politics is a result of political gridlock, failed policies, and a lack of meaningful action to address the root causes of migration. As long as these issues persist, the border will remain a contentious and divisive issue in American politics. Please rewrite this sentence.
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