To Win on Immigration, Biden Must Move the Debate Beyond the Border

On Tuesday, President Biden issued a proclamation that gives the Department of Homeland Security the authority to temporarily block migrants from seeking asylum between ports of entry at the United States-Mexico border. This means that the only people who are able to apply for asylum at the border are those who can secure an appointment through the government’s CBP One app, in flagrant violation of immigration law.

The president’s decree echoes a 2018 Trump-era policy that invoked the same powers to deny protections to people seeking asylum between ports of entry. That one was blocked by the federal courts. The American Civil Liberties Union has said it will challenge this ban as well.