WASHINGTON—Lora Ries, director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation and former acting deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, released the following statement today in response to President Joe Biden’s deeply flawed executive order meant to assuage Americans’ concerns with the ongoing border crisis:

“President Biden’s executive order to let in almost one million additional illegal aliens per year is a campaign stunt that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. After months of lying to the American people by saying he’s ‘done all he can do’ to secure the border, he’s rolling out an unserious executive order to try to save his sinking poll numbers in the wake of the massively unpopular invasion he has orchestrated.

 

“More than 10 million people have entered the country on his watch as a direct consequence of his abuse of our parole system, refusal to detain illegal aliens, and empowerment of open-border activists like impeached DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. For more than three years, Joe Biden has aided a national security crisis at our borders to appease the far Left. Today’s executive order will not rewrite that history and Americans will not be fooled.”
 

After three years of Biden’s border policies, immigration is now a top concern for the American people. According to polling, a staggering 70% of Americans disapprove of Biden’s handling of the border.

The Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action have long pointed to H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, as the only lasting solution to the dangerous situation caused by the Biden administration's immigration policies. H.R. 2 passed the U.S. House of Representatives more than one year ago, but U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has refused to allow the chamber to consider the bill.
 

BACKGROUND:

• The Heritage Foundation: The Biden Border Crisis
• The Heritage Foundation: Our Border Crisis