To Win on Immigration, Biden Must Move the Debate Beyond the Border

On Tuesday, President Biden issued a proclamation that gives the Department of Homeland Security the authority to temporarily block migrants from seeking asylum between ports of entry at the United States-Mexico border. This means that the only people who are able to apply for asylum at the border are those who can secure an appointment through the government’s CBP One app, in flagrant violation of immigration law.

The president’s decree echoes a 2018 Trump-era policy that invoked the same powers to deny protections to people seeking asylum between ports of entry. That one was blocked by the federal courts. The American Civil Liberties Union has said it will challenge this ban as well.

Mr. Biden may think that shutting the border to asylum seekers will improve his standing with voters. But he is falling into the trap of believing that the only way to counter Republican criticism and appeal to voters for whom immigration is a top concern is to restrict asylum even further. Rather than reduce unauthorized migration, his policy will likely push people to cross at more dangerous areas along the border.

Though there’s little to be done now about this recycled immigration policy, Mr. Biden has a moral obligation to use his legal authority to protect the communities he promised to defend four years ago while on the campaign trail. That would be a smart political move.

When the immigration fight is only about fear mongering around the border, Donald Trump wins. But our nation’s immigration challenges transcend the border. The president can set himself apart by taking a more holistic approach. To do so, he can enact policies that benefit immigrants and Americans alike.

Only Congress can create a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. But Mr. Biden could use his executive power to shield immigrants from deportation and allow them to work legally. Even temporary protections of this kind could have a profound effect on people’s lives.