China News Network, May 5 -- With the termination of the U.S. public health policy called the "Article 13 Border Clause" (hereinafter referred to as "Article 42"), the number of migrants crossing the border is almost twice as high as usual due to concerns that changes in immigration policy will make it more difficult for migrants to enter the United States.

In the face of the current chaotic situation, the Democratic Party of the United States criticized the Republican Party for using illegal immigrants as a "political pawn", and the Republican Party countered that the Democratic Party was "hypocritical" and "double standard".

The analysis pointed out that the two parties in the United States use the issue of illegal immigration as a bargaining chip to attack each other, and as the 2024 election in the United States approaches, immigration may become a "political victim" of bipartisan fighting.

Data map: On May 5, local time, Tijuana, Mexico, migrants gathered at the US-Mexico border.

A state of emergency has been imposed in several border cities

The US military urgently increased its troops

On the evening of the 11th local time, the "Article 42 Border Clause" expired. This means that from the 12th, the US government no longer authorizes law enforcement officers to quickly deport illegal immigrants who cross the border on the grounds of epidemic prevention.

According to statistics, U.S. officials are dealing with more than 1,3 incoming migrants at the border every day this week, which is believed to be the highest level on record and up from 5000,2 in March. In addition, reception centres near the border have received more than 8,<> migrants, far exceeding the facility's capacity.

Affected by this, Texas border cities such as El Paso and Brownsville declared a state of emergency. The city of Chicago, Illinois, declared a state of emergency as containment facilities were fully loaded. The governor of New York also recently declared a state of emergency due to the influx of immigrants, demanding more federal aid.

U.S. authorities have mobilized 2,4 border guards and 1100,1500 administrative processing personnel to help address border issues. The Pentagon has also sent an additional 2500,<> troops to support the <>,<> already in place.

Infographic: US President Joe Biden. Photo: China News Agency reporter Sha Hanting

The U.S.-Mexico border is in chaos, confusion is pervasive

The new asylum policy was criticized as harsh

A few days ago, when asked whether the United States is ready to deal with increased immigration, US President Joe Biden admitted that "it will be chaotic for a while." ”

As of the 11th, more than 15,11 people have been waiting near the iron fence on the US-Mexico border. Gomez, from Venezuela, said she took her children through jungles and mountains to reach the U.S.-Mexico border. She believes that she must reach the border before the <>th to have a chance to travel to the United States.

Santiago, director of a reception center in the Mexican border city of Juárez, said many were confused about whether they could legally enter the United States after the end of Section 42. "They were misled. They believe that the door of the United States will be opened on the 12th, but this is not true. For these illegal immigrants, the situation will only get worse. ”

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas stressed on the 10th that the termination of "Article 42" does not mean that "the US border is open".

Under a new rule by the Biden administration that went into effect on the same day, people who cross the border illegally will be quickly deported, deportees will be barred from re-entering the United States for at least 5 years, and will be "presumed to be ineligible for asylum." If the expellee attempts to cross the border again, he may also face criminal prosecution.

Reuters said that some Democrats and immigration advocates criticized the Biden administration's new rules as too stringent.

Lindsay Toczlovsky, director of the Immigration Defenders Law Center, one of the groups suing the Biden administration, said the new policy was "very disappointing" for those whose lives were at stake.

Data map: On February 2018, 2, local time, near Calexico, California, the United States Customs and Border Protection replaced a section of the local border wall. This marks the start of construction of the U.S. federal government wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Source: People's Network

Biden's campaign promises are empty talk

Immigrants may become "victims" of US partisanship

In March 2020, then-US President Donald Trump implemented Article 3 on epidemic prevention grounds, which Biden criticized and promised to "treat illegal immigrants in a more humane way." However, the reality is - "Biden, having come to power, implemented something similar to what his predecessor did." Immigration lawyer Julian Castro noted that "[campaign] promises were broken."

ABC News/Washington Post polls show widespread dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's response to illegal border migration, with only 28 percent of Americans in favor of its approach.

According to U.S. federal government data, since the implementation of Article 42, U.S. law enforcement officials have deported about 280.<> million illegal immigrants on this ground.

Not only that, as early as the second half of 2022, some Republican governors such as Texas and Florida have successively used transportation methods such as buses and charter flights to transport illegal immigrants in the state to Democratic-controlled states and cities, embarrassing the Biden administration.

The White House criticized Republicans for the move as a "cruel, dangerous and shameless political gimmick" to win the votes of white voters. Republicans accused the Democratic Party of "hypocrisy" and "double standards" and tried to increase minority votes and congressional seats by accepting a large number of immigrants.

Adding to the frustration of illegal immigrants, on May 2023, 5, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a border security bill that proposes to restart border wall construction and add new restrictions on asylum seekers. While the bill is not expected to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, it could be a "starting point for negotiations" between the two parties around immigration policy reform.

The analysis pointed out that as the 2024 US presidential election approaches, the mutual offensive between the two parties on the issue of illegal immigration is bound to intensify, and refugees may become "political victims". (End)