The Biden administration is considering a new plan to address the influx of migrant families entering the United States without authorization. According to a report in the L.A. Times, the proposal would require these families to stay near the Texas border while their asylum claims are processed. The goal of the measure is to discourage unauthorized border crossings and expedite the deportation process for those who fail initial asylum screenings.
To enforce this requirement, the plan could involve tracking families using GPS monitoring devices like ankle bracelets. The focus would be on Central American families, who make up a significant portion of the recent surge in migrant family arrivals. This strategy draws inspiration from a similar policy implemented during the late 1980s by the Reagan administration.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has responded to the reported plan by vowing to increase the transportation of migrants to cities like Washington, D.C. He claims that a similar strategy from the past was rejected by a judge and promises to deliver "swift justice" while escalating the migrant traffic to the nation's capital.
The situation at the southern border remains a crisis, with July seeing an increase in migrant numbers to approximately 183,000. Some Border Patrol sectors are approaching or hitting capacity. Republicans, including Governor Abbott, blame the administration's policies for the ongoing crisis. Democrats and the administration, on the other hand, advocate for increased funding and a comprehensive immigration reform bill. However, the proposal faces opposition from Republicans, particularly concerning the inclusion of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the United States.
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