Local leaders express disappointment after Biden's 1st presidential trip to border

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- President Joe Biden is facing some criticism after his first presidential visit to the U.S./Mexico border this past weekend. This comes just days after his administration announced tougher measures under Title 42.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have been calling on President Biden to travel to the border for two years, saying he wasn’t focused enough on the immigration issue.

"There's no question that there is deep anger and disappointment that there's Democrats not doing enough when they have a majority power to really do more on immigration reform," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, the director of the nonprofit organization Voces de la Frontera.

Last Thursday, Biden expanded the Trump-era Title 42 policy, allowing for up to 30,000 migrants a month to enter the U.S. legally, particularly those coming from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti.

Moreover, although Biden has met with local officials and border patrol agents in El Paso, Texas, and also toured a migrant center this past weekend, he reportedly did not see nor meet with any migrants. A senior administration official said it was just a coincidence that no migrants were there when they arrived, but critics argued it lacked the exposure to understand the full magnitude of the immigration crisis.

"Three hours...is that enough? No, obviously it's not enough," said Fernando Garcia, the executive director of Border Network for Human Rights.

Neumann-Ortiz said the situation at the border continues to be a human rights crisis. She added that the Latino population, in and out of Milwaukee, has expressed their ongoing disappointment toward Biden.

"Having a working asylum system is something that is widely supported by the American people but what we continue to see is really this deferral to the far right, a deferral to have them set the terms of this conversation on the border and what needs to happen," she said.

The administration is looking into establishing a parole program for some migrants to enter the U.S. legally. At the same time, the Supreme Court's involvement on the controversial Title 42 policy has allowed it to remain in place, making it impossible for thousands of asylum seekers to even apply to get in.

"I do hope that his visit there can, and his conversations...changes mind in terms of his leadership," Neumann-Ortiz said.