Leaders | Making America greater

Joe Biden’s new border policies irritate the extremes. Good

They mix toughness with generosity and are a step in the right direction

TOPSHOT - A migrant man embraces his wife and daughter after crossing the Rio Grande near the border between Mexico and the United States in Del Rio, Texas on May 16, 2021. - Crossings in Del Rio have risen significantly this year with many crossings earlier this year by Haitian migrants and now many coming to seek asylum from Venezuela. (Photo by Sergio FLORES / AFP) (Photo by SERGIO FLORES/AFP via Getty Images) — Image: Getty Images

Feb 23rd 2023

“BORDER CHAOS!” began as a nativist dog whistle. Under the Biden administration it became reality. Problems in countries south of Mexico, the strength of America’s economy and a confused set of federal policies resulted in 2m undocumented people crossing the southern border in 2022 (many others surely crossed undetected). Since Democrats lost their majority in the House of Representatives after the midterms, though, the Biden administration has pivoted. Its new policies, some of which were announced this week, are a step in the right direction.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Making America greater”