As the sun sets on the enforcement of Title 42, the Trump-era policy enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to deter illegal border crossings, a new dawn of disorder appears to be rising along the U.S.-Mexico border. Yet, despite the mounting tension, the White House insists the situation can’t be compared to the Afghanistan withdrawal, claiming there is no chaos at the southern border.
John Kirby, White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, dismisses comparisons between the border situation and the Afghanistan debacle, stating, “It’s not chaos down there at the border, at least not right now.” Yet, the reality on the ground paints a starkly different picture.
He admits they are helping them in! White House: You Can’t Compare Border to Afghanistan Withdrawal — ‘Not Chaos’ at Border, ‘at Least Not Right Now’ https://t.co/oPzHu1dwny
— Freedom Lover (@simplify77) May 13, 2023
Since the expiration of Title 42, thousands of migrants hoping to gain entry into the U.S. have amassed at the border. The Biden administration, seemingly unruffled, is telling Americans to prepare for a “chaotic” period at the southern border as the U.S. faces a potentially historic migrant surge.
However, amid the escalating border crisis, a tragic incident has struck. A Honduran teenager, Ángel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza, died in U.S. custody, which his mother insists was not due to any known health issues. The incident is now under investigation, but the White House seems tight-lipped. The press secretary admits she hadn’t spoken to President Biden about the teen’s death.
Unsurprisingly, Biden remained silent on conditions at the border while meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The press, eager for answers, were ushered out of the room by White House staff, leaving the questions in the air, much like the uncertainty at the border.
The administration’s assurances of control and order at the border are undercut by their predictions of chaos. Simultaneously, their message to migrants, claiming readiness to “process and swiftly remove people without a legal basis to remain in the U.S.,” is undermined by their actions. Border Patrol was planning to release migrants onto the streets without court dates in the event of overcrowding, a policy that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody promptly challenged.
In a recent ruling, a federal judge blocked the Biden administration from implementing this policy. The White House responded with characteristic defiance, labeling the ruling an act of “sabotage.” Yet, the court’s judgment reflects the growing frustration and concern over the administration’s handling of the border crisis.
While the Biden administration continues to downplay the border chaos, the evidence of a crisis is mounting. The end of Title 42, coupled with the administration’s lackluster responses to growing concerns, points to a volatile situation far from under control.
