Insights on US Immigration Policy
Former immigration adviser to President Biden, Bras Nunez Neto, recently shared his thoughts in a New York Times opinion piece regarding the ongoing challenges in US immigration policy. He highlighted a system that seems fundamentally broken, which continues to fuel the border crisis.
Nunez Neto, who was once the Secretary Advisor for Border and Immigration Policy at the Department of Homeland Security, discussed the significant surge in illegal crossings that occurred during Biden’s first three years in office, particularly peaking in 2021. This surge, he argues, has led to a waning trust in the Democratic Party as it hasn’t effectively tackled the issue.
Describing his observatory role, Nunez Neto stated, “I’ve witnessed this crisis firsthand. We’ve learned that what we’re facing at the border is ultimately an asylum crisis. Our flawed immigration laws seem to incentivize economic immigrants to navigate a lengthy process instead of seeking legal temporary work opportunities.” It’s a bit of a contradiction, isn’t it? Laws meant to protect are instead complicating the situation.
He further explained that current immigration laws, established decades ago with a focus on seasonal labor from Mexico, are outdated and no longer fit the contemporary landscape. This, he says, pushes immigrants toward seeking asylum in ways that can appear convoluted and unsustainable.
Despite the numerous enforcement strategies attempted by both Democratic and Republican administrations, Nunez Neto insists that substantial reform must originate from Congress. He criticized both parties for not addressing the fundamental issues, preferring to let immigration remain a contentious political point.
Interestingly, House lawmakers are now exploring the influence of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in contributing to the illegal immigration crisis during the Biden administration. An investigation from the Homeland Security Committee comes on the heels of a historic border crisis. The years 2023 and 2024 have reportedly seen some of the highest numbers of immigrant encounters on record.
According to data from Customs and Border Protection, approximately 8.5 million immigrants were encountered along the US-Mexico border over four fiscal years under the Biden-Harris administration. A New York Times analysis noted that this period marked the highest net migration levels in US history, surpassing the surges seen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump had managed to restore some order at the border, but questions linger about how the current crisis developed and what financial support may have been involved. GOP members of the House Homeland Security Committee have pointed fingers at various NGOs that they allege received substantial funding from the Biden administration while seemingly promoting illegal immigration.
