Biden - The US Border is Open

Of course, the Democrats will never publicly admit that. They will sanctimoniously claim they are for border security. They aren't. 

This post is a follow-up to my prior post: Illegal Immigration Allowed into the US by the Biden Administration. On February 18, 2021 the New York Times printed this story: The Democrats’ immigration proposal offers an eight-year path to citizenship. The significance of this story is in what was said and what was not said. The overarching theme of the story is that those in the US illegally, instead of being deported, will be allowed to stay and given a path to citizenship. That makes a mockery of any claims that the Biden administration will provide enhanced border security.  The Washington Times writes: "President Biden‘s immigration bill cancels penalties for future illegal immigrants, speeds legalization of those already here and increases legal immigration levels."  In my prior post, I had reviewed how the border security efforts of the Trump administration were being dismantled.  The New York Times wrote:

Unlike previous efforts to overhaul immigration, the legislation does not include a large focus on increased border enforcement. Instead, the bill adds resources to process migrants legally at ports of entry and invests $4 billion over four years in distressed economies in the hopes of preventing people from fleeing to the United States because of security and economic crises.

But the bill tries to make the most far-reaching changes in immigration law in more than three decades. It would sweep away restrictions on family-based immigration, making it easier for spouses and children to join their families already in the country. And it would expand worker visas to allow more foreigners to come to the United States for jobs.

As with all legislation the details are hidden in the "fine print" and in the absence of certain themes. While the "fine print" is not yet available, the implications are clear with the headline's theme of offering illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.  That is an "open" incentive to migrate to the US. Especially in the absence of any negative incentives for entering the US illegally.

The absent theme is "deportation" of those illegally here. There is a vague nod to "preventing people" from entering the US. But that is not further discussed as the emphasis is on legitimizing those who are here now and loosing restrictions for those who may enter the country, in the future, illegally. The Washington Times wrote: "The Biden plan checks off most of the major wish-list items of immigrant-rights activists, including: funding lawyers for some migrants who want to challenge their deportations; granting speedy legal status to “Dreamers” and farm workers; pouring cash into Latin America for nation-building activities; and slashing barriers to legal immigration."

The operative theme of the proposed legislation is legitimizing those illegal immigrants who are here. Not deporting them. In fact, the proposed immigration plan, would allow illegal immigrants (once legitimized) to bring into the US family members from their native country. No need to illegally cross the border. The net effect, the border is open. 

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Update 2/19/2021: Since posting Biden has "opened" the border for some individuals waiting in Mexico. US begins admitting migrants from Mexico, as Biden administration winds down Trump-era policy.  Biden is quickly "opening" the border but has yet to issue any actions to make the "border secure" to prevent illegal immigration. Biden's apparent silence on any "secure border" initiatives means that he has no intention of actually controlling illegal immigration. Biden has given illegal immigrants the "green light". The border is open. 

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Update 4/08/2021: Since posting this cartoon was published.