In 2024, the Biden administration’s migration strategy has been characterized by a significant influx of illegal migrants compared to legal entrants. Recent statistics reveal that for every two legal migrants admitted per the longstanding 1990 immigration law, five illegal migrants crossed the border. This disparity raises concerns regarding the alignment of immigration practices with constitutional mandates, as Congress is charged with controlling immigration. Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge, emphasizes that the prevailing circumstances indicate a parallel immigration system that operates outside of the legal frameworks established by Congress, thereby challenging the principle of lawful immigration.
The sheer volume of migration data released highlights the complexity of the situation. Over the fiscal year leading up to October 2023, approximately 2.9 million “inadmissible” migrants were registered at the southern border. Of these, around 1.3 million were allowed entry through humanitarian parole programs spearheaded by Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. The majority of these migrants were processed at official ports of entry, making their entry partially sanctioned under current policies. However, the assertion by Mayorkas’s department that a significant portion of migrants was returned to Mexico raises questions about the true nature of migration patterns and the enforcement of existing laws meant to deter unlawful entry.
While the administration reports a decrease in the number of “gotaways”— individuals who elude detection when crossing the border—the reality is that hundreds of thousands still manage to enter the country undetected. The figures suggest that approximately 400,000 gotaways successfully integrated into American society, contributing to the narrative surrounding the perceived failure of current immigration enforcement. Budgets for deportations remain under scrutiny, as the Biden administration’s more lenient approach appears to facilitate a pathway for migrants who cross the border without adequate oversight, contradicting the intent of pre-existing immigration regulations that mandate the detention of asylum seekers.
The statistics indicate that Biden’s immigration network has effectively admitted around 2.6 million “inadmissible” migrants alongside legal migrants in 2024, totaling approximately 3.6 million migrants. This figure effectively mirrors the number of American births for the year. Coupled with ongoing discussions about future immigration policies under potential Democratic leadership, particularly if Vice President Kamala Harris assumes the presidency, there are concerns about continued high levels of migrant admissions that could impact local economies and social structures.
Judicial responses to the situation show a reluctance to challenge Mayorkas’s policies, which are viewed as simply an extension of executive priorities over legal frameworks. According to Arthur, courts have largely sidelined Congress’s concerns, suggesting that dissatisfaction with policy should be addressed through electoral choices rather than legal interventions. This raises critical questions about the balance of power within the federal system concerning immigration enforcement and the role that public sentiment should play in shaping policy decisions.
The overarching implications of the current migration policy, dubbed “Extraction Migration,” extend beyond simply numbers. This approach is said to bolster the consumer economy by importing labor from lower-wage countries while inadvertently driving down wages for American workers and destabilizing local job markets. Critics argue that such policies have systemic repercussions, adversely affecting productivity and civic cohesion, leading to a widening divide in economic prosperity. The knock-on effects echo beyond U.S. borders into the global economic landscape, as low-wage migration schemes ultimately influence market dynamics in other nations while neglecting the welfare of American workers and those from countries supplying the labor.
