By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON - Next week, President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order targeting migration along the U.S. southern border with Mexico, according to two sources familiar with the plan.
The upcoming order is expected to restrict asylum requests and deny entry to migrants once a daily limit is reached, the sources stated.
As Biden campaigns for a second term in the November 5 election, he has taken a firmer approach to border security. Immigration has become a significant concern for American voters.
Republicans, including Biden's likely opponent, former President Donald Trump, have criticized Biden for reversing Trump-era border policies and not effectively controlling illegal crossings.
The sources noted that Biden has not yet given final approval to the plan. The announcement could come as early as Tuesday.
A White House official mentioned that no final decisions have been made on any additional executive actions.
In an April interview with Univision, Biden mentioned that he and his administration were assessing whether he had the authority to unilaterally close the southern border to migrants if deemed necessary.
Earlier this year, a bipartisan attempt at migration legislation failed when Republicans blocked it. Biden accused Trump of using his influence to prevent the legislation from passing, thereby keeping migration as a campaign issue.
A White House spokesperson reiterated the administration's commitment to exploring various policy options to address the broken immigration system.
In December, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded a monthly high of 250,000 illegal border crossings. However, the numbers have since declined significantly, with 137,000 arrests reported in March.
