Biden Accedes to Tougher Immigration Policy to Deflect Criticism, Secure Ukraine Aid

An immigration deal being crafted in the Senate would limit migrants’ ability to claim asylum at the southern border, a White House concession some progressives say shows that President Biden’s leftward shift on immigration as a 2020 candidate was a blip in his long political career.

The deal, which would come in return for new war aid for Ukraine and Israel, is already facing steep odds on Capitol Hill with House Republicans making tougher demands.

“We have talked about the necessary elements to solve this problem,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) said after a meeting with Biden on Wednesday at the White House. Among them, he added, “is reform to the broken asylum and parole systems.”

Biden’s willingness to negotiate with Republicans lays bare what many liberal Democrats have long feared—that he is willing to move to the right to cut a deal on immigration and secure funding for the wars.