Biden Open Borders Are Magnet For African Illegal Immigration

Thousands of Africans are flying to Central America, aiming to cross into the United States illegally over the southern border. This new trend raises critical concerns about the implications of the Biden administration’s open-border immigration policies.

In fiscal year 2023, 58,462 Africans were apprehended at the U.S. southern border, a significant jump from 13,406 in the previous year, according to a report published on Friday by The New York Times. These numbers include 15,263 from Mauritania, 13,526 from Senegal, and over 4,000 each from Angola and Guinea. Many begin their journey in Nicaragua before traveling through Mexico to the U.S. border.  

The financing of these journeys is unclear, with migrants claiming to borrow money or sell businesses to fund their flights. Once at the U.S. border, many are released into the country, a policy that has drawn criticism.

Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform commented to The Daily Wire, “The message has gone out across the world that the American border is open.” He criticized the misuse of the asylum system under the Biden administration, pointing out the ease with which illegal entrants can remain in the U.S.

Illegal border crossings have hit record highs under President Joe Biden, with December seeing an all-time peak of 302,000 encounters. House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, are advocating for more stringent border security measures, including the construction of a border wall.

The influx is not just a number but a mix of personal stories and complex motivations. Sekuba Keita, 30, from Guinea, explained his choice of the U.S. over Europe due to the perceived certainty of entering America. Migrants like Keita have navigated through multiple countries, including Turkey, Colombia, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, to reach the U.S. border.

While the absolute number of African migrants is still a small fraction of the total, their growing presence is noticeable and contributes to the strain on U.S. border resources. The U.S. Border Patrol processed a record-breaking 2.5 million migrants in the 2023 fiscal year, with 300,000 in December alone.

The Biden administration is under increasing pressure to address this surge. Republicans in Congress have linked their support for foreign aid, including to Ukraine and Israel, to the administration’s action on speeding up deportations and restricting asylum claims.

Under communist dictator Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua has emerged as a starting point for many African migrants due to its relaxed entry restrictions. The journey through Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico to the U.S. border has become a preferred route for many, as evidenced by the sixfold increase in Africans passing through Honduras.

The difficulty of deporting individuals to distant countries like those in Africa and Asia adds to the challenge. Adding to the surging numbers of African illegal migrants, much of Europe has been tightening its immigration policies over the last year, increasing the incentive for Africans to make the dangerous journey into the welcoming arms of the Biden White House.