Making America Great Again: Border Policy

As the 2024 presidential race heats up as we are less than four months away, the media continue to run cover for Biden's failed policies that have ruined the American economy, endangered the southern border, and more. We'd like to set the record straight in an unbiased way, openly discussing real policy differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. While we present the policy positions of both candidates without bias, ForAmerica is open with our support of Donald Trump and want to get into the brass tax of how we can make America great again!

Today we delve into the contrasting approaches to border policy under the Trump and Biden administrations. It is crucial to understand the fundamental differences that have shaped the current state of border security and immigration in the United States.

Monthly Border Encounters

Under President Trump, the United States saw an average of 50,789 monthly border encounters. This figure significantly increased under President Biden, reaching 199,603 monthly encounters. These figures are according to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). The drastic rise in numbers can be attributed to various policy changes and the broader messaging surrounding immigration which we'll discuss as we move into more specific policy differences.

"Remain in Mexico" Policy

One of the cornerstone policies of the Trump administration was the "Remain in Mexico" program, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed in the U.S. This policy aimed to deter illegal immigration and reduce the burden on U.S. resources. President Biden, however, ended this policy, allowing asylum seekers to remain in the U.S. while their claims are adjudicated, leading to increased border activity and resource strain.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

President Trump sought to end DACA, a program protecting young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. Conversely, President Biden has supported and aimed to preserve DACA, signaling a more lenient approach to immigration.

ICE Raids and Deportations

The Trump administration increased ICE raids, focusing on detaining and deporting illegal immigrants, emphasizing law and order. Additionally, Trump has vowed to launch the largest deportation effort if reelected in November. President Biden, while not entirely halting deportations, has reduced the deportation efforts of the government in general, with his only efforts dedicated to individuals posing significant security and public safety threats, shifting the focus away from broader immigration enforcement.

Refugee Cap

Under Trump, the refugee cap was significantly reduced to 15,000, reflecting a stringent stance on immigration. In contrast, President Biden raised the refugee cap to 125,000, demonstrating his open border attitude toward refugees and asylum seekers. The rate of acceptance from refugee applicants is worth noting as it more than tripled between the administrations. For example, in 2019 the acceptance rate was just over 15%, but in 2022 it is now about 46%.

Border Wall Construction

One of President Trump's key promises was to build a border wall to prevent illegal crossings. His administration succeeded in constructing 450 miles of new or replacement barriers. President Biden, however, halted new construction and redirected funds, reflecting a shift in priorities away from physical barriers. Despite his opposition to the Trump wall, Biden authorized about 20 miles of new construction. in 2023 in light of catastrophic immigration data.

The stark differences between the Trump and Biden administrations' border policies highlight the policy and political differences of the candidates. While Trump's policies focused on strict enforcement and physical deterrents, Biden's administration has taken a more lenient approach, prioritizing protection for illegal immigrant populations and shifting resources away from American security in the name of humanitarian efforts.