Biden temporarily restricts US-Mexico border for asylum seekers | First Thing

Under pressure from Republicans and some Democrats to reduce number of people arriving at border, Biden issues executive order. Plus: the search for a fix to modern loneliness

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Good morning.

Joe Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday that will temporarily shut down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers attempting to cross between lawful ports of entry.

What was the reaction to the order by immigration advocates? The American Civil Liberties Union has already announced its intention to legally challenge the order. Similar policies enacted by Trump demonstrated that this order will fail to deter asylum seekers. Rather, it will only cause suffering and death, as legitimate refugees will be unable to access protection," emphasised Erika Pinheiro, the executive director of Al Otro Lado, a non-profit group that helps asylum seekers at the border.

What has the reaction been like globally? The United Nations issued a statement saying it was profoundly concerned" by the new restrictions and urged the US government to reconsider its actions. The new measures will deny access to asylum for many individuals who are in need of international protection, and who may now find themselves without a viable option for seeking safety and even at risk of refoulement," meaning being sent back across the border, the statement read.

Were Democrats in support of Biden's order? While the centrist New Democrat Coalition said they were encouraged" by Biden's order, progressive Democrats have shared their outrage. The US representative Raul Grijalva, whose Arizona district borders Mexico, said that the order was a significant departure from President Biden's promise of a more humane and just approach to immigration."