Biden Makes “No Apologies” for Ending Trump-Era Migrant Policies

"P20210125AS-1300 2" (United States government work) by The White House

On Thursday, Biden made a statement saying he makes “no apologies” for ending various Trump-era immigration policies. Including among them is the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) or otherwise known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy that Trump put in place.

65 days into his administration and amid the growing migrant crisis at the southern border, Biden made his first-ever live press briefing as a president.

During the press briefing, Trump was asked whether he might have rolled back some Trump-era immigration policies way too fast through series of executive orders he signed during his first few weeks in tenure. Biden, however, adamantly defended his actions and stated that he makes “no apologies” for reversing a series of Trump-era policies. 

Biden said, “First of all, all the policies that were underway were not helping at all, did not slow up the amount of immigration.” He continued, “Rolling back the policies of separating children from their mothers? Make no apology for that.”

Biden also added, “Rolling back the policies of “Remain in Mexico,’ sitting on the edge of the Rio Grande in a muddy circumstance with not enough to eat? I make no apologies for that. I make no apologies for ending programs that did not exist before Trump became president that has an incredibly negative impact on the law — international law — as well as on human dignity. And so I make no apologies for that.”

This year, immigration is one of the major topics of Biden’s presser. Said issue consumed a significant amount of time during the approximately an hour-long briefing. 

However, Biden also made news by threatening to back changes to the filibuster in the Senate and stating that it is his “expectation” that he will run for re-election in the election of 2024. 

With regard to the issue with North Korea, he said that his top foreign policy issue and slammed Republican state voting legislation stating that it makes “Jim Crow look like Jim Eagle.”

The reporters also pressured Biden to answer a migrant-related question, asking him whether he will allow the news media to regularly view migrant facilities at the border. Biden said that he would allow the media once his administration begins to implement “certain actions.” 

Biden said, “I will commit when my plan very shortly is underway to let you have access to not just them,” referring to facilities where children are being processed. He added that he would also commit to transparency in other facilities as well.

However, when the president was asked how soon will that be, he answered, “I don’t know, to be clear.”

In addition to this, Biden also further emphasized that a vast majority of individuals who officials encounter on the border are being sent back. He added that his administration’s goal is to not let in most family units who are found crossing the border. 

Biden continued, “We’re in negotiations with Mexico. That’s going to change. They should all be going back.”

In January, out of 7,294 encounters, the Customs and Border Protection expelled 4,546 family units under the Trump-era health order, Title 42. That is the equivalent of just over 62%. 

However, in February, there was a big shift, as most families were allowed to stay in the United States while awaiting a decision on whether or not they will be allowed to stay. 

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