Biden discourages migrants from coming to the U.S.: 'Don't leave your town'


President Biden on Tuesday pushed back against Republicans who claim that more migrants are crossing the border because he has rescinded the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies.
"There was a surge in the last two years," Biden told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos. "In '19 and '20, there was a surge as well." Biden said he recently heard that migrants are crossing the southern border "because they know I'm a nice guy. Here's the deal — they're not."
There is an influx in unaccompanied minors crossing the border, and due to a lack of space at shelters, many are being held for longer periods of time at Border Patrol facilities, which are not meant for children. Last week, Border Patrol encountered on average 565 unaccompanied minors every day at the border, NBC News reports, up from an average of 313 per day in February.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Biden administration is immediately expelling asylum seekers, except in the case of unaccompanied minors. "Still intact families who are desperate for their children's safety are going to send their children to cross alone," immigration attorney Amy Maldonado told NBC News, especially when there are relatives in the United States able to care for the children. "I feel like a lot of this could be avoided if intact families were processed through the border and allowed to seek asylum," she added.
Biden told Stephanopoulos the U.S. is "sending back people" who cross the southern border, and discouraged migrants from starting the trek north. "I can say quite clearly: Don't come," he said. "We're in the process of getting set up, don't leave your town or city or community."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump says Iran and Israel agreed to ceasefire
Speed Read This followed a night of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and multiple waves of missiles fired by Iran
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefs
Speed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program
-
Israel deports Thunberg after seizing Gaza aid boat
speed read The Swedish activist was delivering food and medical aid to Palestine, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis there
-
Colombian senator shot on streets of Bogotá
speed read Miguel Uribe Turbay, who has announced his candidacy for next year's presidential election, was shot at a rally
-
Trump says Putin vowed retaliation for Kyiv strike
speed read The Russian president intends to respond to Ukraine's weekend drone strikes on Moscow's warplanes