• disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    I see a lot of criticism about border restrictions. I’m curious which option people think is best.

    A President cannot reform immigration policy or increase the budget.

    Biden’s options are turn away at the border, detain, or do nothing and allow migrants to be homeless in overcrowded sanctuary cities.

    Which is the right choice?

    • bamboo@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      This is a false dichotomy. While it’s true that the president cannot massively reform immigration policy or adjust the budget unilaterally, they do have a lot of sway in how to handle the situation by setting the priorities of federal agencies and working with aligned NGOs. Instead of restricting immigration, why not work with cooperative state and local governments, as well as NGOs to make resources more available to those who need it? He could also direct agencies like CBP and ICE to stop wasting their money detaining people and ruining lives, and instead focus on helping those not in compliance go through the legal process instead, and provide personnel support to aid those crossing the border using their existing logistical resources.

      Just limiting immigration altogether is the lazy approach and helps no one.

      • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        With what housing? Your suggestions are missing the most important part of the problem. There’s no housing budget left in sanctuary cities. They’re at capacity. He can’t support the cities financially, not can he mandate other cities participate in being sanctuary cities. That’s all congressional immigration policy, and they failed to do their job.

        He could offer them housing in a detention center. That’s within his power.