President Joe Biden is contemplating using executive authority to address the increasing number of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, a move that Republicans have been urging for weeks. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Senate for killing a 370-page immigration package on February 7, calling it "dead on arrival" for not going far enough. Biden is considering utilizing Section 212(f) of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act to suspend immigration for individuals deemed "detrimental to the interests of the United States."

Despite Senate Republicans voting against a $118 billion immigration bill earlier this month, with a provision requiring the Department of Homeland Security to shut down the border if migrant crossings exceeded 5,000 daily average, the border crisis persists. In January, border crossings exceeded 1 million, marking a 42 percent decrease from December but still a concerning figure.

The White House continues to advocate for bipartisan efforts to secure the border and reform the immigration system, with White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández condemning Congressional Republicans for prioritizing partisan politics over national security. While the Biden administration has not made a final decision on using executive authority at the border, they have been evaluating potential actions.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Biden's handling of the border crisis, expressing concern over the impact on the upcoming elections. As the administration weighs its options, the need for significant policy reforms and additional funding to secure the border remains a top priority. With no new plan on the horizon in Congress, the administration faces ongoing pressure to address the escalating situation at the border.