Trump blasts Biden for ‘out of control’ border, being ‘extorted’ by Mexico over massive migrant surge

"Our border is out of control like no border in history," Trump posted to Truth Social, "from any country, has ever been. We are being extorted by Mexico and other countries, when it should be the other way around. We truly are a nation in decline, a failing nation, with leadership that is not respected and doesn't have a clue... and just 3 years ago, we had the strongest and safest border in our history, by far. Make America great again!"

Trump's 2016 campaign was run with a promise of securing the border against the rising tide of illegal immigrants, and he did. With policies that discouraged illegal immigrants from coming to the US, the installation of a border wall, and an administration unfriendly to illegal border crossers, the numbers crossing dwindled to record lows.

Even before Biden took office in 2021, would-be border crossers were lining up to get ready to cross, knowing that Biden had a much less stringent view on border security. His Department of Homeland Security head, Alejandro Mayorkas, even told immigrants in the spring of 2021 "we're not saying don't come, we're saying don't come now." In ensuing months he would deny that he said it.

In February 2021, Biden signed an executive order to better facilitate the flow of illegal immigrants into the US and to ensure they would have access to social services programs. "Consistent with our character as a Nation of opportunity and of welcome, it is essential to ensure that our laws and policies encourage full participation by immigrants, including refugees, in our civic life; that immigration processes and other benefits are delivered effectively and efficiently; and that the Federal Government eliminates sources of fear and other barriers that prevent immigrants from accessing government services available to them," Biden said.

The use of the term "refugee" was key in this context as it opened the door for illegal immigrants to say that they were refugees, to claim asylum, and to be given court dates to appear and state their case for asylum. In August 2022, Mayorkas said that the administration's goal is not to reduce illegal entry, but to provide "safe, orderly, and legal pathways for individuals to be able to access our legal system." Only 5 percent are eligible for asylum, and many of those who claim that status won't even show up to court.

Under Biden's leadership, the US has seen record illegal immigration, with millions upon millions flooding across the US-Mexico border. Under Trump's last year in office, less than 500,000 entered illegally and were apprehended. Biden's policy is to apprehend illegal immigrants, give them free cell phones, court dates years into the future, and bus or plane tickets into the interior of the US.

Once in New York, Chicago, LA or other big cities, these migrants have legal standing, and as such, are able to access welfare and social services programs. In New York, Trump's hometown, government officials are at a total loss as to how to deal with the massive migrant surge.

New York Mayor Eric Adams has asked the Biden administration for aid but he came away from that meeting saying that he did not believe help was on the way.