Biden takes fresh immigration moves into debate with Trump
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[June 24, 2024]
By Ted Hesson and Kristina Cooke
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden heads into a crucial
debate with rival Donald Trump this week armed with new immigration and
border policies that his backers hope will boost his standing among
skeptical voters.
Biden announced two major policy moves in June that seek to address
migration challenges and woo the electorate: an asylum ban to cut
illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border and a sweeping legalization
for long-term residents married to U.S. citizens.
The two policies - one aimed at turning away new migrants and the other
focused on legalizing hundreds of thousands already here - illustrate
the political tightrope that Biden has walked as he competes for another
term in the White House.
Record numbers of migrants have been caught illegally crossing the
U.S.-Mexico border during Biden's presidency and immigration has emerged
as a top voter concern ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Biden, a Democrat, has toughened his approach to border enforcement in
the face of criticism from Trump, a Republican who adopted hardline
policies in his 2017-2021 presidency and has vowed a vast immigration
crackdown if reelected.
On immigration policy, registered voters prefer Trump over Biden by a 17
percentage point margin, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll in mid-May.
The issue is sure to feature when the two candidates face off in their
debate on Thursday in Atlanta.
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Earlier this year, Biden pushed Congress to pass a bipartisan Senate
border security bill but Republicans rejected the effort in February
after Trump came out in opposition.
Biden rolled out a new policy on June 4 that barred most migrants
illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border from seeking asylum, saying
the executive action was needed to reduce illegal immigration in the
absence of legislation.
The policy aims to quickly deport migrants arriving at the border to
their home countries or back to Mexico instead of releasing them in the
U.S. where they might wait years to resolve their case in court.
The number of migrants caught crossing has dropped in recent weeks
although U.S. officials say it is too soon to gauge whether the trend
will continue.
While the clampdown on the border was driven by polling data that showed
most Americans want tighter controls, the White House has also looked at
other polls showing what it believes is an opportunity to mobilize
Latino voters with pro-immigrant action, two sources familiar with the
matter said.
The polls included one by the advocacy group Immigration Hub that showed
a move to legalize spouses of U.S. citizens would have strong support
among voters, especially Latinos, one of the sources said.
The polls - along with a push from Democrats and advocates - encouraged
Biden to offer a path to citizenship to some 500,000 spouses of U.S.
citizens, the majority of whom were long-term U.S. residents from
Mexico, they said.
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![](../images/062424PIX/news_g15.jpg)
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald
Trump stands next to Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Fox News Channel
host Sean Hannity during a visit at the U.S.-Mexico border at Eagle
Pass, Texas, as seen from Piedras Negras, Mexico, February 29, 2024.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo
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Matt Barreto, a Biden campaign pollster who conducted the
Immigration Hub survey, said Americans view migrants at the border
differently than long-term residents and want both border
enforcement and fair treatment for those living and working in their
communities for years.
"When it comes up in focus groups and we say, 'What about the person
who cleans your house? What about the person who takes care of your
children or your elderly mother?'" Barreto said. "They love them."
DEPORTATIONS
Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt last week criticized
the new Biden program and pointed to voter support for deportations.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll in May found over half of U.S. voters backed
deportations of most or all immigrants in the U.S. illegally.
"On Day One back in the White House, President Trump will begin the
largest criminal deportation operation of illegal immigrants and
restore the rule of law," she said.
Trump has signaled openness to skilled, legal migration. He said on
a podcast last week that all foreigners graduating from U.S.
colleges should receive permanent residence, also known as a green
card.
Trump's campaign said afterward that only after "the most aggressive
vetting process in U.S. history" would "the most skilled graduates
who can make significant contributions to America" be able to stay.
Meanwhile, Latino community organizers said the new Biden
legalization for spouses could help re-engage some Latino voters.
Mi Familia Vota, a nonpartisan organization that operates in 10
states including the battleground states of Arizona, Nevada and
Georgia, said it would highlight Biden's spouse legalization effort
in voter outreach.
Hector Sanchez Barba, the group's executive director, said the
initiative was significant.
"This is a big deal for the Latino community," he said.
(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington and Kristina Cooke in San
Francisco; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
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