Perspectives: The Ongoing Migrant Surge at the Southern Border

Several recent developments have kept the U.S.-Mexico border in the news media’s spotlight, as the Biden administration seeks to manage a surge of asylum-seeking migrants that includes over 15,000 unaccompanied minors. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) recently provided photos of overcrowded detainment facilities to Axios. Border patrol sources told Fox News that border traffickers earned up to $14 million per day in February. Some have accused the Biden administration of implementing an unofficial “gag order” and keeping journalists out of detention centers. On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration would work with Mexico and Guatemala “to address the root causes in their countries to convey clearly and systematically that this is not the time to travel.” Voices in many right-rated outlets criticized the Biden administration's position on the issue, and accused it of being reluctant to address the migrant surge. Voices in left-rated outlets included some criticism of Biden by right-leaning authors, but also attributed the surge to other causes and pushed back on Republicans’ criticisms of Biden.