Local elected leaders react to Biden's order to secure the border

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Tuesday that will temporarily shut down asylum requests once the average number of daily encounters tops 2,500 between official ports of entry into the United States.

The shutdown would go into effect immediately since that threshold has already been met. The border would reopen only once that number falls to 1,500.

“The border is not a political issue to be weaponized," Biden said in a White House speech announcing the order.

According to a release from the White House, “President Biden believes we must secure our border. That is why today, he announced executive actions to bar migrants who cross our southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum. These actions will be in effect when high levels of encounters at the southern border exceed our ability to deliver timely consequences, as is the case today. They will make it easier for immigration officers to remove those without a lawful basis to remain and reduce the burden on our Border Patrol agents.

"But we must be clear: This cannot achieve the same results as congressional action, and it does not provide the critical personnel and funding needed to further secure our southern border. Congress still must act.”

Here’s how some local elected leaders reacted to Biden’s executive order to strengthen border security.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

“As a border state governor and former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I’m encouraged by President Biden’s plan to rein in illegal border crossings and help our nation’s immigration officers manage this challenge.

"In New Mexico, I’ve long emphasized the need for more border agents to help crack down on drug and human trafficking. While only Congress can provide those resources, the president’s plan maximizes the resources that are available for border security, strategically deploying border patrol agents where they’re needed most.

"At the same time, this plan maintains an approach that’s true to our American values. This administration will not separate children from their families or discriminate based on religion as occurred during the Trump Administration.

"President Biden and I agree that the most effective way to secure our border is through comprehensive congressional action, which Republicans have repeatedly blocked. Proposed legislation they rejected included adding thousands of Border Patrol agents, investing in anti-fentanyl technology, increasing asylum officers and immigration judges, and expanding lawful migration pathways.

"I thank President Biden for listening to my concerns and for his commitment to the job of securing our border. It’s time for Republicans in Congress to do theirs."

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

“Our immigration system and border security need a reset, and the president’s executive order is an important step in delivering that.

“Now we need to use this moment to reform the system. That includes addressing overuse of the asylum process so legitimate asylum seekers can be processed in an orderly way, increasing effective border security, reducing the current, enormous wait times for visas, and expanding the legal pathways to citizenship for Dreamers.

“From our front row seat to the dysfunction at the border and in our immigration system, New Mexicans see the effects — on immigrants, border communities and national security. We want action.

“I applaud the president’s action today and urge him to continue to exercise his authority to tackle as much as he can, given Senate Republicans’ refusal to act.”

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez

“This order takes an initial step to fix our longstanding broken immigration system and the challenges we face at our border. But the order does not address the totality of the problems our immigration system faces, and now more than ever, we need congressional action to tackle this humanitarian crisis. Republicans, who control the agenda in the House, must muster the courage to bring common-sense, bipartisan bills, like mine to the floor.

“The fact is, Republican inaction in Congress is hurting our border communities. That’s why I introduced a package of common-sense border security and immigration reform bills that move the ball forward and provide tangible solutions to the asylum crisis, provides legal pathways to residency and addresses fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking. It’s time to think bigger, rise above partisanship and work together to legalize Dreamers and get serious about matching our workforce needs with comprehensive immigration reform.”