Even Biden Thinks the Immigration System Is Broken

440

August 1, 2023

Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
(Germany) on 26 July 2023
by Andreas Ross (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Mallory Matsumoto. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.

Democrats and Republicans have significantly converged when it comes to immigration policy. But they would never admit it.

When federal Judge Jon Tigar first struck down a new asylum policy out of Washington, most Americans knew who their hero was and who their villain was in the affair. Then-President Donald Trump had ordered that applications for asylum could only be submitted at official border crossings and that those who had entered the country illegally could not submit them. Some hated Trump for it, others hated the judge.

Trump dismissed him as an “Obama judge” and was reprimanded for his comment by the (conservative) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts, who said that America’s courts are independent.

Millions of Abuses

As if to prove the point, Tigar has now taken on Trump’s successor, Joe Biden. The Democrat is also trying to stop illegal border crossings.

In this attempt, Trump’s approach has been refined. Now, a person can apply for asylum at the border using an app, but must wait for months for the appointment. Also, applicants have to prove that they have already applied unsuccessfully for asylum in another country — except that there is hardly a functioning asylum system in Central America.

In addition, Biden has introduced quotas for immigrants from certain countries. In the end, though, even he believes that the old immigration system is broken because it has been abused millions of times.

That makes it all the more tragic that Republicans and Democrats will never admit how much they have converged on this issue. If Congress would pass new asylum legislation, less would depend on judges.

Auch Biden hält das Asylrecht für untauglich

Demokraten und Republikaner haben sich in der Migrationspolitik deutlich angenähert. Aber das würden sie nie zugeben.

Als Bundesrichter Jon Tigar 2018 schon einmal eine neue Asylpolitik aus Washington verwarf, wussten die meisten Amerikaner, wer in dem Stück ihr Held und wer ihr Schurke war. Der damalige Präsident Trump hatte verfügt, dass Asylanträge nur noch an offiziellen Grenzübergängen gestellt werden konnten; illegal eingewanderte Personen durften das nicht. Die einen hassten Trump dafür, die anderen den Richter.
Ihn beschimpfte Trump als „Obama-Richter“ und wurde dafür vom (konservativen) Obersten Richter John Roberts zurechtgewiesen: Amerikas Justiz sei unabhängig.
Millionenfacher Missbrauch
Wie zum Beweis dafür, hat sich Tigar diesmal mit Trumps Nachfolger Biden angelegt. Auch der Demokrat will illegale Grenzübertritte verhindern.
Trumps Ansatz wurde verfeinert: Man kann sich nun per App für ein Asylgesuch an der Grenze anmelden – muss darauf aber viele Monate warten. Außerdem müssen Bewerber nachweisen, in einem anderen Land vergeblich Schutz beantragt zu haben – aber in Zentralamerika gibt es kaum ein funktionierendes Asylsystem.
Biden hat zudem Kontingente für Migranten aus bestimmten Ländern eingeführt. Letztlich glaubt aber auch er, dass das alte Asylrecht wegen millionenfachen Missbrauchs nicht mehr taugt.
Umso tragischer, dass Republikaner und Demokraten nie zugeben würden, wie sehr sie sich da angenähert haben. Beschlösse der Kongress ein neues Asylrecht, hinge nicht mehr so viel von Richtern ab.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Block title

United Arab Emirates: Were Trump’s Military Powers Revoked?

July 7, 2026. Published in Alkhaleej

The president retains military authority, but Congress can halt it by cutting military funding.

China: South Korea Must Reflect on America’s Untrustworthiness

July 9, 2026. Published in Huanqiu

The era of political multipolarity has arrived, and a security framework based on unilateral dependence is only becoming more inadequate against complex threats.

Germany: Culture War in the US: Ruling against the 1.8% Who Are Transgender

July 5, 2026. Published in Die Tageszeitung

The slim chance that a female athlete will be disadvantaged by a transgender person over the course of her athletic career is out of proportion to the intensity of the debate.

Ghana: From Slavery to Reunion: DNA Reconnects Illinois Lawmaker with Family in Ghana

July 6, 2026. Published in GhanaWeb

Australia: ‘Shameful’, Incomprehensible’: Severe Blowback over FIFA’s Opaque Balogun Decision

July 6, 2026. Published in ABC News Australia

Topics

Mexico: The End of the USMCA: A Turning Point for Emancipation

July 10, 2026. Published in La Jornada

It is unacceptable that the future of Mexico would depend on the constant changes of opinion of a president who still has 2 1/2 years of governing left.

Japan: New York State Legislature Bill Abolishing the Writing of Mother and Father Is Strange

July 10, 2026. Published in Sankei Shimbun

The rejection of the words ‘father’ and ‘mother’ damages the traditional view of family.

Saudi Arabia: Could There Be a NATO Without the US?

July 10, 2026. Published in Arab News

Saving NATO in the age of Trump was on the minds of everyone in Ankara, but of course it was not discussed.

Saudi Arabia: NATO’s Photo-Op in Ankara

July 9, 2026. Published in Asharq Al-Awsat

In Ankara, the key word will be “cheese” as TV cameras record yet another photo-up.

Poland: Europe Hears ‘Enough’ from the US: Clever Poles Refuse To Believe It

July 9, 2026. Published in Rzeczpospolita

We [in Poland] believe that we can create an enclave of the old transatlantic order.

China: South Korea Must Reflect on America’s Untrustworthiness

July 9, 2026. Published in Huanqiu

The era of political multipolarity has arrived, and a security framework based on unilateral dependence is only becoming more inadequate against complex threats.