President Joe Biden is reportedly preparing an executive order to shut down the U.S. southern border if encounters cross a 4,000-a-day benchmark.
The executive order, first reported by the New York Post, is similar to a provision in an immigration bill that failed to pass the Senate in February. That legislation would have put in place a trigger authority for the president to close the border if encounters averaged 4,000 per day over one week. Closing the border would become mandatory at an average of 5,000 per day or if encounters hit 8,500 in a single day.
The White House has repeatedly faulted Congress for the ongoing immigration crisis and claimed that congressional action is necessary before the president can close the border. Republicans have challenged the White House’s claim and said that the president has enough authority already to act on the border.
Despite the White…
