Immigrants’ rights advocates are expressing deep concerns over President Joe Biden’s decision to effectively close the border to asylum seekers amidst record-breaking temperatures in the southwest. This move is seen as potentially endangering lives and further marginalizing climate-displaced individuals seeking refuge in the U.S.
The soaring temperatures caused by a heat dome over Mexico and the southwestern United States have shattered records from Phoenix to Sacramento, California. Health officials are advising people to minimize outdoor activities and take precautions against the intense heat, which has already claimed lives in Mexico. The fear is that the directive by Biden, allowing the suspension of border crossings when they exceed 2,500 daily, could result in a spike in heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
According to Ahmed Gaya, Director of the Climate Justice Collaborative at the National Partnership for New Americans, the timing of this executive order is seen as an additional cruelty that will expose more people to severe climate impacts in dangerous conditions.
Biden’s order, implemented from June 4, has already prompted numerous deportations and will remain in effect until the daily encounters between ports of entry from Mexico drop below 1,500. Critics view this decision to restrict legal entry, except for certain exceptions like unaccompanied minors, as a politically driven move that puts vulnerable individuals at risk.
The scorching temperatures at the border have already proven deadly, with reports of migrants succumbing to heat-related illnesses while attempting the crossing. Concerns are mounting among immigration advocates that the new policy could exacerbate the risks faced by asylum seekers.
