Hispanic Democrats are frustrated that the White House’s proposed executive order restricting asylum fails to take into account the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ immigration reform priorities.
Lawmakers we spoke to on Monday criticized President Joe Biden for what they perceive as an “enforcement-first” border policy. The simmering tension is the latest flashpoint in months of unhappiness between the CHC and the administration over the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Biden is expected to roll out an executive order today that would allow the president to cut off asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. The shutdown would be triggered if more than 2,500 migrants cross in one day.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) said the order would be detrimental to the Biden campaign’s standing with Hispanic voters.
“There’s enough voters out there generally that don’t want to see any of the Trump-era policies back that liken this to the Muslim ban,” Garcia said.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) also criticized the proposal, arguing Biden is “paralleling some of what the Trump administration tried to do unsuccessfully.”
Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) said he was willing to publicly push back on Biden if he pursues hardline immigration policies.
“It’s not going to help the president politically because I don’t think Fox News is ever going to give him any credit,” Casar told us. “What we should do is have an actual thoughtful plan that is both pro-border and pro-immigrant.”
The public frustration comes two weeks after senior congressional Hispanic leaders met with Biden and other White House officials to pitch their ideas on immigration reform. During the meeting, Biden officials promised to satisfy some of the Democrats’ immigration-related asks before the election.
But those private assurances aren’t enough for some members.
“Looking at just an enforcement-only EO would be disappointing,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said.
To be sure, the executive order is supported by portions of the House Democratic Caucus. Several Democrats were invited to the White House later today as Biden announced his plan — although not all are going. But a consistent theme from many Democrats we spoke to was a lack of clarity on what is in the order itself, despite Biden officials briefing many lawmakers in recent days.
“I anticipate it would be a good part of what was in the bipartisan Senate proposal that never made it,” Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), who plans to attend the White House ceremony, told us.
— Max Cohen and Mica Soellner
