Biden Pledges to 'Shut Down' Border Amid Senate Bill Negotiations

Proposed legislation triggers mandatory shutdown if more than 5,000 migrants are apprehended in a day, sparking concerns over feasibility and humanitarian implications.

President Biden has pledged to 'shut down' the border if given the power by a bipartisan Senate bill currently under negotiation, drawing criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
The proposed Senate bill would trigger a 'mandatory shutdown' if more than 5,000 migrants are apprehended at the border in a day, with any additional migrants immediately removed and not processed for asylum.
Current and former officials at the Department of Homeland Security have expressed concern over the feasibility of such a shutdown, stating that it would require significant cooperation from Mexico.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre struggled to explain why Biden's threat to close the border is not considered 'racist' or 'xenophobic', as similar statements by former President Trump were labeled.
Immigration advocates argue that reviving an expulsion policy would contribute to more disorder at the border and go against humanitarian values and economic needs.