Biden adviser admits failure on border crisis led to Trump’s support
- Blas Nuñez-Neto expressed that the Biden administration failed to recognize and act upon the border crisis.
- The surge in illegal crossings during Biden's presidency contributed to a loss of trust with voters and aided Trump's re-election.
- Nuñez-Neto concluded that without a balanced immigration system, future border crises are likely.
In a recent New York Times op-ed, Blas Nuñez-Neto, former assistant secretary for border and immigration policy at the Department of Homeland Security under Joe Biden, assessed the shortcomings of the Biden administration regarding border security. He highlighted how the lack of acknowledgment and timely action on the border crisis contributed to Donald Trump's re-election in 2024. Nuñez-Neto described the surge of illegal crossings as a crisis during Biden's presidency, emphasizing that it was necessary for the administration to recognize this reality to maintain trust with American voters. Listing various factors that exacerbated the situation, he pointed to economic challenges following the Coronavirus pandemic and insufficient resources at the border as significant issues. Additionally, he mentioned the difficulties in deporting individuals to countries such as Venezuela. Nuñez-Neto criticized the delays in policy decisions, which hindered the ability to implement crucial changes promptly. He noted that collaborative efforts with Republicans to reform immigration laws began too late, affected by the approaching presidential election. Despite stating that the border security situation has improved under Biden, he warned that this has come at the cost of eroding constitutional order. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive system that balances the generosity towards legal applicants with strict measures against illegal immigration. According to him, without such reforms, future border crises are imminent. The response to Nuñez-Neto’s alarm on the issue was met with substantial backlash, including mockery from the current Homeland Security department on social media platforms. His reflections come as the nation grapples with record-high illegal border crossings, noting an alarming 249,785 Border Patrol apprehensions in December 2023, starkly contrasting the situation at the border under Trump, where encounters had dramatically decreased within his first months in office.