President Joe Biden has come under fire from Democratic lawmakers after announcing the deployment of 1,500 active–duty U.S. troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The White House announced Tuesday that the troops would be sent to the border to provide administrative support and fill security gaps for up to 90 days, but will not be working in a law enforcement capacity.
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chair Bob Menendez, D–N.J., slammed the decision, and said it signaled a “militarization” that is “unacceptable.”
“The Biden administration’s militarization of the border is unacceptable,” Menendez said. “There is already a humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere, and deploying military personnel only signals that migrants are a threat that require our nation’s troops to contain. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D–Minn., added that the policy would only victimize “the innocent.”
“The right to seek asylum is a basic human right, protected under US and international law. The victims of this policy will be the innocent—people who committed no crime other than daring to seek a better life in the United States of America,” Omar wrote, without mentioning Biden.
Critics have also compared Biden’s decision to actions taken by his predecessor, former President Trump, who deployed active–duty troops to the border as migrant caravans were looming in Mexico.
The White House, however, brushed off such comparisons.
“DOD personnel have been supporting CBP at the border for almost two decades now,” White House press secretary Karine Jean–Pierre said during a press briefing Tuesday. “So this is a common practice.”
When asked why the president was sending the troops if the border is already secure, as he claims, Jean–Pierre said, “More work can be done.”
The decision comes as the U.S. and Mexico jointly announced new immigration policies that intend to help both countries lessen the number of illegal border crossings. Under the newly negotiated agreement, Mexico will accept migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua and up to 100,000 individuals from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador who meet certain criteria.
The U.S., meanwhile, will continue to not accept Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who cross illegally.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R–Penn., suggested alternative solutions instead of sending troops.
“Biden could have finished the wall. He could have enforced our nation’s laws. He could have protected our national security,” he tweeted. “But he chose to do nothing. Now, active–duty troops head to the border to clean up his mess.”
Sen. Jim Risch, R–Idaho, added, “Title 42 ends next week, and everyone knows that means a huge surge at the border. The Biden admin‘s solution: Send National Guard troops to do clerical work. That’s not going to cut it. We need more enforcement and stronger policies.”
Rep. Ben Cline, R–VA., called the decision a “moment of clarity” for Biden but said it “would not be necessary” if he just provided permanent solutions.
“The Biden admin is having a rare moment of clarity as it realizes the CHAOS that mass crossings at our southern border will create due to lifting Title 42. Sending 1,500 troops wouldn’t be necessary if Joe Biden ENFORCED our laws & SECURED the border,” Cline said.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley added, “Here’s an idea: Reimpose Title 42. Close the border.”
The Biden administration has yet to respond to the criticism, but the latest move is sure to draw criticism from both sides of the aisle. The deployment of troops to the border is a controversial move, and it remains to be seen how effective it will be in curbing illegal immigration.
