The news of Biden’s sudden 180-degree turn on building a border wall was met with a mix of meltdowns from Capitol Hill/Texas politicians, who remember Biden’s pledge during the election year that “there would not be another inch of wall constructed under my administration.”
Joe Biden, himself, stumbled through the questions posed on this issue, saying in so many words that the money was already appropriated and that he did not believe that border walls were effective.
Karine Jean Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, also struggled during the press conference on Thursday to explain the administration’s position in this matter, notably the apparent disagreement between Biden, and the Department. of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas, on the “immediate necessity” to resume the construction of the wall.
In the middle of Team Biden’s messaging problems in relation to border security, another major announcement was made. They will resume deportations back to Venezuela of illegal immigrants:
CBS News reported that the Biden administration has restarted direct deportations of Venezuelan migrants who are illegally crossing the border along the southern boundary. This is in an effort to reduce the number of Venezuelan migrants who have been traveling to the U.S. at record levels in recent weeks.
The U.S. has not deported Venezuelans regularly for years due to the strained relationship it has with its socialist government. This country is subject to U.S. sanctions because of its human rights violations and repressive policy. Officials plan to resume direct removals to Venezuela to return Venezuelans who enter the U.S. illegally and do not have a legal basis for remaining in the country.
The shift in policy is designed to slow down an unprecedented flow of U.S.-bound migration from crisis-stricken Venezuela.
In September, approximately 50,000 Venezuelans crossed the U.S. southern border without authorization, an all-time record.https://t.co/FrnPE6EAUX
— Camilo Montoya-Galvez (@camiloreports) October 5, 2023
Biden’s administration has had a wildly inconsistent policy toward illegal Venezuelans. They were at times deported to Mexico, and at others granted temporary protection against deportation, allowing them instead to work in the U.S. It is unclear if they plan to maintain the revised policy long-term.
It is not surprising that this announcement, along with their about-face at the border wall, has been questioned.
The right-wing critics have pointed out correctly that this abrupt change in policy would have not happened if Democrat mayors and Governors in blue states had not begged Biden to do something regarding the illegal immigrants who have been flown/bussed to their area of the country from fed up red state Governors like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis and the blue border towns mayors of Texas have ripped Joe Biden for the dire situation.
Biden’s stance on secure borders is not changing, despite his comments earlier Thursday. Republicans need to keep hammering this issue until Election Day in 2024. It’s just one of many areas where voters have given Biden low ratings.
