Biden-Harris take credit for drop in border encounters after Trump reinstates policies * WorldNetDaily * by Andrew Powell

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are taking credit for the recent drop in encounters at the southern border after reinstating policies similar to those of former President Donald Trump.

It’s no secret that the Biden administration, and in particular his Vice President Harris who was given the border portfolio and forever became known as the “border czar,” have done absolutely nothing since taking office to stop undocumented migrants from streaming across the border and into the U.S. interior over the past three years.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection released its August update on Monday, highlighting the success of Biden’s interim final Securing the Border regulations since they were implemented in June of this year.

Troy A. Miller, a senior official who serves as commissioner, said confrontations along the southern border have dropped to levels not seen in years.

“CBP continues to enforce the Securing the Border interim final rule and impose tough consequences for illegal entry, and encounters between ports of entry remain at their lowest levels in years. Through the work of our dedicated personnel, this enhanced enforcement posture is meaningfully disrupting the activities of deadly transnational criminal organizations. In August, CBP’s drug enforcement efforts also resulted in the seizure of 30 percent more dangerous drugs than in July – keeping them out of our communities and enabling continued enforcement against these criminal networks,” Miller said.

According to the CBP report, encounters at ports of entry have decreased by more than 50 percent since the proclamation was issued. The report notes that the executive action has resulted in “a significant increase in the percentage of migrants removed from the United States and a decrease in the number of individuals released pending their removal proceedings.”

In addition, between June 5 and Sept. 10, the Department of Homeland Security expelled or returned more than 131,000 individuals to more than 140 countries. DHS tripled the number of noncitizens processed for removal and reduced the number of releases pending immigration court, the report said.

“The total number of expulsions and returns in the past year exceeds the number of expulsions and returns in any budget year since 2010, and the majority of all encounters at the southwest border in the past three budget years resulted in an expulsion, return or removal,” the report said.

But despite the rosy picture, border states still struggle with illegal migrants and face growing numbers of violent gangs.

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that his state plans to arrest members of the Tren De Aragua prison gang, which is originally from Venezuela, Center Square reported.

Chris Cabrera, vice chairman of the National Border Patrol Council who was at the news conference in Houston, said there is no way to screen anyone crossing the southern border. In some cases, countries like Venezuela have refused to help agents identify people. Those people are allowed into the U.S. interior.

“What people don’t realize is that we work at the border, we see everything that comes through, but it doesn’t affect us as much as it does the rest of the United States, especially Houston. Anything that comes through our area just goes through and it ends up being your problem or a problem up north. If people don’t wake up and see it for what it is, we’re going to be in big trouble in this country,” Cabrera said.

Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy and Biden’s Interim Final Rule have many similarities. Both policies created exceptions and exemptions for certain foreign nationals, including unaccompanied minors, lawful permanent residents, and noncitizens with a valid visa or other legal authorization to enter the U.S.

“Under the IFR, aliens who arrive in the United States via the southern border during emergency border conditions and who do not qualify for the proclamation’s exceptions to the entry restrictions are not eligible for asylum unless they demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence (i.e., more likely than not) that “exceptionally compelling circumstances exist,” Biden’s proclamation said.

Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols (Remain in Mexico) placed migrants in deportation proceedings before an immigration judge. These undocumented migrants were required to remain in Mexico during their deportation proceedings.

“With certain exceptions, MPP applies to aliens arriving in the U.S. by land from Mexico (including aliens apprehended at the border) who are not clearly admissible and who are placed in removal proceedings under INA § 240. This includes aliens who at any time during apprehension, processing, or such proceedings assert a fear of return to Mexico but who have been assessed as not more likely to be persecuted or tortured in Mexico. Unaccompanied alien children and aliens in expedited removal proceedings are not subject to MPP. Other individuals from vulnerable populations may be excluded on a case-by-case basis,” Trump’s policy states.

While security at the US borders is good in itself, there is a stark difference between the way Biden’s policies have been accepted and even celebrated, while Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy, introduced in 2019, was praised as divisive and even racist.

Trump’s comments during his press conference today: “The press is loco. I use that word because we made a deal with Mexico.”

It’s just amazing how this man has absolutely no sense or self-awareness when it comes to race.

— Carl Hasting (@67jewelCDH) October 1, 2018

Trump calls Mexicans “criminals and rapists.” Calls black athletes “scumbags.” Calls Latin American/African countries “shitholes.” Calls black celebrities and candidates “dumb,” “low IQ,” “not equipped.” Calls neo-Nazis “really nice people.” Runs racist ads. HE. IS. A RACIST. https://t.co/zIfFDGMqRK

— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) November 5, 2018

Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy has caused immense human suffering for people legitimately seeking asylum in America. MPP also has a dubious legal status and undermines US foreign policy.

A horrific and indefensible decision by a far-right Supreme Court. https://t.co/OgeZSyoY79

— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) August 25, 2021

Meanwhile, liberal groups are criticizing Harris’ plan to implement the bipartisan bill she says Trump rejected if she becomes president. The plan includes continuing construction of the wall on the southern border and increasing funding for the detention of undocumented migrants.

According to Axios, some still support Harris’ campaign despite her policies being similar to Trump’s.

Kerri Talbot, executive director of the Immigration Hub, told Axios that the group “still opposes this bill” and “if you take out the Ukrainian worker who was originally part of the compromise, it’s just a Republican bill,” but added that she still supports Harris’ campaign.

Gina Cummings of Oxfam America said her group believes the bill “should not be brought to the Senate floor or passed under any current or future administration.”

Meanwhile, Sunil Varghese, policy director at the International Refugee Assistance Project, said that “anti-immigration policies are better than reforming or modernizing the painfully outdated U.S. immigration system.”