President Joe Biden announced executive actions aimed to significantly restrict asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue that has been pivotal in his reelection campaign. His measures come as polls indicate growing public concern over immigration and border security, with former President Donald Trump leveraging the issue in his own campaign. Biden's pivot represents a stark contrast from his 2020 campaign promises to restore asylum protections.
Several polls indicate that Americans have increasingly prioritized immigration as a critical issue, surpassing even the economy at times. According to an AP-NORC poll, 56% of Americans believe Biden’s presidency has worsened immigration and border security, compared to 37% under Trump. Among Latinos, approximately half feel Biden's tenure has negatively impacted immigration.
Biden’s announcement has exposed divisions within the Democratic Party, with left-leaning lawmakers and immigration advocates criticizing the move. Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign continues to focus heavily on immigration, further fueled by a super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc. The PAC reported raising nearly $70 million in May and plans to spend an additional $100 million by Labor Day, targeting key states in the Rust Belt and Sun Belt.
As part of Biden's response to voter concerns, his allies plan to spend $50 million on advertising in six pivotal states to highlight his administration's achievements, including lower drug prices and increased spending on clean energy. This comes in addition to ongoing ad buys by other supporting groups. The advertisements aim to educate voters about Biden’s legislative successes without explicit election references.
These developments underscore the critical importance of immigration in the upcoming election, with both Biden and Trump striving to sway key voter demographics.