Joe Biden moves to seal US-Mexico border, as rematch with Donald Trump looms
- New asylum ban becomes active when the daily average of border arrests tops 2,500
- Mexico is a transit country for asylum seekers and other migrants trying to reach the US
The United States is temporarily closing its Mexico border to asylum seekers as US President Joe Biden tries to neutralise his political weakness on migration ahead of November’s election battle with Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, the 81-year-old Democrat signed a long-awaited executive order taking effect at midnight to “gain control” of the southern frontier with Mexico, after record numbers of illegal border crossings sparked concerns among voters.
“I’ve come here today to do what the Republicans in Congress refuse to do – take the necessary steps to secure our border,” Biden said in a brief address at the White House, flanked by officials from border states.
Biden’s executive order bars migrants who enter the US illegally from claiming asylum when numbers surge past 2,500 in a day – a threshold that has already been passed. It also makes it easier to deport people back to Mexico.
The curbs will remain in place until numbers fall back down below 1,500 illegal crossings a day.