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Biden order to block most illegal immigrants when crossings surge, as election nears
The White House on Tuesday announced long-awaited executive actions to stop illegal immigrants at the southern border claiming asylum if crossings reach a certain level — a move coming just months before the November election and that could soon see a legal challenge from activists.
“Today I’m moving past Republican obstruction and using executive authorities available to me as president to do what I can on my own to address the border,” President Biden said in a speech on Tuesday afternoon, accusing Republicans of refusing to secure the border.
Biden is issuing a presidential proclamation that will temporarily suspend the entry of non-citizens across the southern border once the number of average border encounters exceeds 2,500 a day over seven days, officials said. That will stay in effect until 14 days after there has been a seven-day average of less than 1,500 encounters along the border. Officials said it would make it easier for immigration officers to quickly remove individuals who do not have a legal basis to remain in the U.S.
In the last 24 hours at the border, sources tell Fox there were 5,200 encounters, and it has averaged over 5,000 every day for the past week. There were 179,725 encounters at the southern border in April, compared to 211,992 in April 2023, and 189,357 in March. While those numbers are lower than highs seen in 2022 and 2023, they still remain high compared to pre-2021 numbers.
BIDEN EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE BORDER ACTIONS AS POLITICAL HEAT INTENSIFIES AHEAD OF NOVEMBER ELECTION
President Biden has called for more congressional action on illegal immigration and the border crisis. (Biden photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images, Migrant caravan photo by Jose Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images)
In doing so, Biden is drawing upon authorities under 212(f) and 215(a)of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) which allows presidents to suspend entry of certain categories of foreign nationals. The Trump administration used 212 (f) on a number of occasions, including for the travel ban from certain countries, but it was blocked by a legal challenge from applying it to the southern border. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said on Tuesday that it intends to launch a legal challenge against the moves announced by Biden.
The order includes a number of exceptions for those coming across the border. It will not apply to visa holders, unaccompanied children, victims of a “severe form” of trafficking, as well as those who face an acute medical emergency or an imminent threat to life or safety. It also does not apply to those seeking entry to the U.S. via ports of entry using the CBP One app — of which around 1,500 migrants are allowed in each day.
It is expected to take place immediately, and will be accompanied by a joint rule restricting asylum eligibility during high border encounters that will be issued by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.
It marks a significant move toward the right from the Biden administration. In 2021 the administration rolled back a series of Trump-era border protections, which critics say encouraged the historic migrant numbers that followed. There have been over 7 million migrant crossings during Biden’s time in office.
Biden on Tuesday attempted to cast his new order in the light of defending immigration to the U.S. more broadly.
“To protect America as a land that welcomes immigrants, we must first secure the border and secure it now,” he said. “Simple truth is there is a worldwide migrant crisis and if the United States doesn’t secure our border, there’s no limit to the number of people who might try to come here, because there’s no better place on the planet than the United State of America.”
The administration says it is dealing with a hemisphere-wide challenge that needs congressional action to provide funding and fix what it says is a “broken immigration system.” The White House has said that this action comes now after Republicans have rejected other attempts at congressional actions, including a bipartisan Senate bill that would have implemented a similar limiting mechanism as well as providing additional funding.
“The presidential proclamation, together with the interim final rule, is another important step in our more than three years of ongoing efforts to strengthen our ability to impose consequences on those who cross our southern border,” a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the announcement.
FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS SAY THE US-MEXICO BORDER IS A BIG PROBLEM
“But we are clear eyed that today’s executive actions are no substitute for Congress taking up and passing the tough but fair bipartisan Senate bill, which would have significantly strengthened the consequences in place at the border and, equally important, have provided billions of dollars to support the men and women who are working on the front lines to secure our border,” they said.
While Republicans have previously urged the administration to use 212(f) to stop illegal crossings, ahead of the announcement lawmakers were unimpressed and called it a move that was too little, too late.
“By my count, he’s issued 94 executive orders since he’s been president for the United States. But he’s waited until today to actually do what he calls effective action on the border,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said at a press conference. “And my question to him is, why did you wait until now if you were serious about doing it? The simple answer is he’s not serious about securing the border.“
Other lawmakers claimed it was a cynical move just months out from an election in which Biden is struggling due to his handling of border security. A recent Fox News poll found that seven in 10 voters go so far as to say the White House has “mostly failed” at improving border security.
MAYORKAS SAYS SOME MIGRANTS ‘TRY TO GAME’ ASYLUM SYSTEM, AS BORDER REMAINS TOP POLITICAL ISSUE
Dec. 18, 2023: Migrants flood into Eagle Pass, Texas, waiting to be processed. (Fox News)
“It’s a little late, you can’t make this cat walk backwards,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who described Biden as “polling right up there with fungal infections.”
The move comes with Biden facing intense political pressure on the crisis from both the left and the right.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS
Mayors of cities like New York City, Denver and Chicago have demanded more funding from the federal government and have called for additional action, including expedited work permits. Recently, 15 House Democrats wrote to Biden calling on him to take additional action at the southern border.
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“It has become clear that the current situation remains untenable, but with Republicans playing politics on border security, it is time for your administration to act. We urge you to use all tools at your disposal, including executive action, to better address security at the Southern border, interdict illicit fentanyl and allow for orderly legal immigration,” the letter said.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Copper theft is becoming a growing problem across North Carolina, with AT&T officials warning that the crime can leave entire neighborhoods without phone or internet service and, in some cases, disrupt emergency communications.
According to AT&T, the company has recorded 215 copper theft incidents across North Carolina so far this year. Buncombe County alone has seen about 40 incidents over the past two years. Thieves often cut down or dig up communication lines, strip the copper from the wire and sell the metal for scrap.
“It’s problematic, largely from a public safety standpoint,” said Trey Rabon, president of AT&T North Carolina. “If folks need to call emergency services, need to call 911, they’re not able to access the infrastructure necessary to complete that call.”
“Sometimes we see instances where emergency communications are disrupted, communications between public safety agencies are disrupted,” Rabon added. “It has become an acute challenge, particularly in western North Carolina.”
5 CHARGED AFTER AT&T WIRE THEFTS CAUSED WIDESPREAD OUTAGES IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY
Rabon said thieves frequently target both residential and commercial communication lines, taking advantage of remote mountain locations where utility poles are often out of sight from nearby homes.
“In the mountains, oftentimes personal property is not in line of sight for other neighbors,” Rabon said. “Would-be thieves have the ability to climb a pole, disconnect a line, drive to the next pole and disconnect that line.”
In May, five people were charged in connection with multiple copper thefts across Buncombe County that investigators said caused widespread outages. Law enforcement also discovered several wire-stripping sites in Swannanoa and Leicester.
The thefts have also impacted local businesses.
SWANNANOA PIZZA SHOP SAYS INTERNET WIRES WERE STOLEN, FORCING A DAY CLOSURE
In early June, thieves cut and stole internet lines serving Good Pizza Company. Owner George Peyton said the outage forced the restaurant to close because employees could not access essential business systems.
“Nobody could clock in, couldn’t print tickets, couldn’t take phone orders, and that’s about 80 to 85% of the business,” Peyton said.
AT&T officials say one of the most effective ways to prevent copper theft is for communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.
“They don’t like to operate in the light of day, and they certainly don’t want to operate with a hyper-aware and vigilant community,” Rabon said.
Anyone who suspects someone is stealing communication wire is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.
Oklahomans are reacting to a nearly $44 million settlement between the state and six poultry companies, with a Creek County farmer warning of statewide impacts and an environmental group calling the deal a win for the watershed.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the settlement Monday, resolving a lawsuit over poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed.
Farmer worried about statewide impact
Matt Barton is a fifth-generation farmer in Oilton. He doesn’t live near the Illinois River Watershed, but he’s worried the new settlement could affect farmers across the state.
“It doesn’t have to be the Illinois watershed with the current settlement. It says any at-risk watershed. And anyone can define a watershed as at-risk at any time,” Barton said.
Barton isn’t a poultry farmer, but he uses poultry litter as fertilizer, and says it’s hard to beat.
“It’s much better for the soil, much better for growth. It lasts three years compared to one year with commercial fertilizer,” Barton said.
Rising fertilizer costs add to concerns
Barton says at a time when alternative fertilizer prices are going up, he’s worried the new regulation could have a downstream effect that hurts rural farmers.
Regular fertilizer prices have climbed due to conflicts overseas, making chicken litter even more cost-effective by comparison, Barton says.
“We love the idea of using an all-natural product that’s processed through another animal, to use to feed our animals with growth from the land,” Barton said.
Environmental group sees settlement differently
The group Save the Illinois River sees the settlement differently. In a statement, the group said clean water and agriculture can coexist, and that the settlement will finally allow people to start removing the pollution after nearly two decades of fighting in court.
“Save the Illinois River, Inc. (STIR) is pleased to see that the State of Oklahoma and all of the Defendants have reached a settlement in the long-standing lawsuit involving poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. We have continued to believe that a comprehensive settlement would be beneficial to the community at-large, the environment and water quality in the watershed, our local farmers and agricultural growers, and the settling defendants. We have continually stressed that clean water and agriculture interests can co-exist for the benefit of all. We commend the Oklahoma Attorney General’s pursuit of this decades old lawsuit and Judge Gregory Frizzel’s well-reasoned opinion on behalf of Oklahoma’s most prized scenic waters. We also commend the defendants in the lawsuit for recognizing their corporate responsibility in reaching a settlement. Most importantly, as we continue to analyze the terms of the settlement, we hope and trust that this process will lead to the remediation of previous pollution and that the restoration of impaired waters can immediately begin. STIR has advocated for greater protection for the waters in the Illinois River Watershed. The United States District Court’s Judgment offered that protection. We look forward to seeing if the Court will approve the proposed settlement.”
Barton says farmers care about the land just as much.
“No one’s going to take better care of the land than the guy who has to feed his family from that land,” Barton said.
Lawmaker cautiously optimistic
State Rep. David Hardin, a former poultry farmer who represents part of the Illinois River Watershed in the House, said he’s cautiously optimistic about the settlement but says it remains to be seen what impact it will have once implemented.
What’s next
The state still has to formally set aside a previous December judgment and dismiss the lawsuit before the settlement takes effect.
Previous Stories:
Oklahoma reaches $44 million settlement in poultry waste lawsuit
‘Please don’t let our way of life die’: Gov. Stitt hears from poultry producers in Adair County
Stitt to meet with state poultry producers amid waste runoff lawsuit
Federal judge approves poultry lawsuit settlement between Tulsa and 6 poultry producers
Less than 72 hours after the sudden passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, his sister was sworn in to finish his term.
Darlene Graham Nordone took the oath on Tuesday, saying it’s what her brother would have wanted.
Having served in the Senate for almost two and a half decades, Senator Graham was well-liked by his Republican colleagues, generally well-respected by Democrats, and well-known across the country.
Taking the oath on the Senate floor, Darlene Graham Nordone, the younger sister of Lindsey Graham, officially became his successor. A ceremonial swearing-in followed in the old Senate chamber.
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) prayed for Graham’s family Monday as he remembered his friend.
“He’s a person that loved his body, loved the country, and loved the people of South Carolina. And it showed,” said Lankford.
Senator Alan Armstrong (R-OK), who went through a similar selection and swearing-in process just a few months ago, told Bloomberg TV he had come to respect Graham during their brief overlap.
“People knew him for somebody that would speak his mind and was clear and convincing in his argument,” said Armstrong.
As a strong backer of Ukraine, one of Graham’s final acts was to get White House backing for a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill.
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