Politics does not exist in a vacuum; In a truly representative democracy, changes in public opinion eventually drive changes in the traditional positions of politicians and their parties. This is particularly evident during electoral periods such as the one currently underway in the United States, which align incentives to promote these types of adjustments.
For example, former President Barack Obama, initially cautious about endorsing policies designed to guarantee the rights of the LGBTQ community, openly supported same-sex marriage as public sentiment around the cause evolved. This transformation was driven by changes in public attitudes and growing activism, culminating in Obama’s historic announcement in 2012—an election year—in support of marriage equality. Similarly, marijuana legalization has seen significant changes, with numerous states adopting more lenient laws as public opinion has increasingly favored decriminalization and medicinal use. The so-called war on crime has also seen an evolution, with many politicians now advocating for criminal justice reform and alternatives to incarceration, reflecting a broader movement towards rehabilitative approaches.
Now, this change occurs with immigration. Public opinion is demanding increasingly strict border controls and more comprehensive management of undocumented immigration, a major shift from the stance associated with Democratic administrations and politicians in the United States. This blow to the helm, along with the systematic inaction of Republicans in Congress, who have blocked any attempt to reform the immigration system, explains why President Joe Biden today announced a package of executive actions considered the most restrictive in immigration matters for a democratic president.
Biden’s decision to limit asylum claims and receive the authority to close parts of the border when necessary is a direct response to these public demands and the legislative impasse. It represents a significant change driven by the need to address the complexities of today’s immigration in a way that resonates with the concerns of the electorate. That is, migration policy changes because the nation’s sentiment around this issue has pushed that change.
The United States went from being a nation proud of its migrant identity to a country that advocates for severe restrictions on asylum seekers and the closure of the border with Mexico. A change that can be traced through events such as the 9/11 attacks, the 2010 economic recession and the pandemic, which have shaped public opinion in recent decades.
Although the US-Mexico border was unrelated to the 9/11 attacks, the resulting focus on national security led to increased scrutiny of all forms of migration. This period ended the circular flow of migrant workers moving back and forth across the US-Mexico border. Caught between opportunity and necessity, many chose to stay in the United States and bring their families.
Another event that further exacerbated the fears and anxieties that fuel anti-immigrant sentiment was the economic crisis of 2007-2008. As the economy faltered, many Americans faced unemployment and financial instability, leading to greater economic frustration and demographic anxieties. These sentiments translated into growing support for stricter immigration policies, perceived as a way to protect the jobs and national resources that migrants were “keeping.”
The Covid-19 pandemic added another layer of complexity, with restrictions on movement, including travel and immigration. The era of Trumpism exploited all of these trends, with nativist rhetoric and policies that resonated with a significant portion of the electorate. Donald Trump’s administration promoted the construction of a border wall and the implementation of “zero tolerance” policies, which reflected the deep mistrust and rejection of migrants, dehumanizing and criminalizing their condition.
These dynamics have culminated in an environment where restrictions on immigration, including asylum claims, are seen as necessary for national security and well-being. The combination of traumatic events, economic crises, and political changes have transformed a nation that boasted of being a refuge for the dispossessed into one that prioritizes the myth of border security. A country in which the border wall eclipses the poem captured in the Statue of Liberty. In that context we are heading into one of the most consequential elections in the history of American democracy, one in which the electorate places immigration at the forefront of its priorities.
Enrique Acevedo is a Mexican-American journalist and host of the news program En Punto de NMás.
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