As President Joe Biden nears the halfway point of his presidency, one of the most significant and complex aspects of his tenure remains his administration’s handling of immigration. The issue has defined his time in office, with a flood of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, shifting demographics, and a legal landscape struggling to keep pace. Biden’s promise to modernize the immigration system and rebuild programs decimated under the previous administration has been met with both praise and criticism, revealing a deeply divided political landscape.
Biden’s administration has pursued ambitious immigration law reforms, surpassing former President Donald Trump’s record for executive actions aimed at immigration. His administration focused on restoring refugee resettlement programs, addressing asylum backlogs, and shifting enforcement priorities. Despite these efforts, his immigration legacy is far from settled and remains subject to contentious debate.
Biden’s efforts have drawn sharp criticism from both conservatives and progressives. The right wing has accused the administration of being too lenient, with policies seen as encouraging illegal crossings and fostering what many deem a border “crisis.” Meanwhile, those on the left have expressed frustration with the administration’s enforcement of policies that they believe continue to treat migrants harshly, including Title 42 restrictions that have been extended in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Muzaffar Chishti, Senior Fellow at the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), the Biden administration inherited a deeply fractured immigration system. In addition to a backlog of asylum cases, the U.S. had lost much of its refugee processing capacity, and policies such as Title 42, which allowed for the expulsion of migrants under public health concerns, continued to shape migration patterns.
Chishti acknowledged that Biden’s approach to enforcement—focusing more on guidance rather than blanket deportation—has been positively received by many immigration experts. At the same time, the massive influx of migrants, particularly from beyond Mexico and Central America, compounded an already strained system.
Despite challenges, the Biden administration made notable strides in legal immigration. In fiscal 2023 alone, approximately 3.5 million individuals were naturalized—the highest number during any single presidential term. The administration also saw an uptick in the issuance of visas and refugee admissions. These successes were underscored by the efforts to increase naturalization rates and streamline work permit processing, benefiting both immigrants and the broader U.S. economy.
However, when it comes to managing the U.S.-Mexico border, the Biden administration has struggled. The surge in migrants arriving at the border from a wide range of countries has overwhelmed U.S. border agencies. The demographic shift—from single adults to family units—has made processing even more complicated. Marielena Hincapie, a visiting scholar at Cornell Law School, pointed out that while some policies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aimed at increasing naturalization and streamlining legal migration were beneficial, the administration failed to call the situation at the border what it was: a crisis. This reluctance to directly confront the issue allowed Republican figures like Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to drive the narrative, including the controversial busing of migrants to northern cities.
In response to the evolving migration landscape, the Biden administration introduced several initiatives aimed at managing both enforcement and legal immigration. The CBP One app allowed migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry, offering a more orderly pathway for asylum seekers. Additionally, parole programs for nationals from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela were introduced as an alternative to irregular border crossings.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Migration from a broad range of countries, combined with large numbers of families and asylum seekers, has created a persistent strain on the immigration system. Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, Associate Policy Analyst at MPI, noted that while the numbers of migrants crossing irregularly have decreased, the challenges associated with managing such high numbers in cities like New York and Chicago continue to be a strain on local infrastructure.
While Biden’s immigration reforms have made notable progress in some areas, experts agree that the underlying issues of border security and irregular migration remain critical to the future of U.S. immigration policy. As Chishti pointed out, there are two intertwined crises facing the nation: a border crisis and a labor market crisis. The United States has experienced significant labor shortages, exacerbated by the pandemic, and immigration has long been a key source of labor. Until the border crisis is addressed, Chishti argued, it will be difficult to reform legal immigration in a meaningful way.
In the years ahead, immigration will likely remain one of the most contentious issues in U.S. politics. Whether Biden’s legacy will ultimately be viewed as one of progress or frustration depends on how well his administration navigates these ongoing challenges, particularly with a divided Congress and increasing pressure from both sides of the political spectrum.
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