In a move aimed at curbing the record number of migrant arrivals at the US-Mexico border, US President Joe Biden signed a new executive order that allows officials to swiftly remove migrants entering the country illegally without processing their asylum requests. The order, which went into effect at midnight, has prompted both criticism and support from various quarters.

Republican opponents, as well as some of Biden's Democratic allies, have voiced their concerns about the executive order. Left-wing Democrats, activists, and the United Nations have expressed reservations, while Republicans have accused Biden of using the plan as an election-year strategy, calling for stronger action. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the upcoming election, took to social media to slam Biden's executive action on Tuesday, stating that Biden had "surrendered our southern border."

President Biden responded, accusing the Trump camp of being "extremely cynical" and blocking a bipartisan border security deal in Congress earlier this year. Biden emphasized that his executive order would help regain control of the border, urging left-wing critics to be patient and stating, "Doing nothing is not an option."

Some Democratic lawmakers and advocates held their own press conference outside the US Capitol, criticizing Biden's decision. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, expressed profound disappointment, describing the order as a step in the wrong direction.

According to data, over 6.4 million migrants have been apprehended crossing into the US illegally during the Biden administration. While the arrival numbers have dropped this year, experts believe that this downward trend is unlikely to continue.

The White House has clarified that the new order will come into effect when daily crossings reach a seven-day average of 2,500, at which point the border is considered "overwhelmed." The order will make it easier for immigration officers to expeditiously remove individuals who do not have a legal basis to remain in the US. The border will reopen to asylum seekers when the average figure reaches 1,500 over a seven-day period, with migrants allowed two weeks later.

Additionally, the executive order includes measures to quickly resolve immigration cases in court and expedite removals for those found to have no legal basis to remain in the country. Asylum processing at ports of entry will still continue under the order, with about 1,500 asylum seekers going through the process daily.

The use of a 1952 law, known as 212(f), allows access to the asylum system to be restricted when their arrival is deemed detrimental to the country's interests. This same regulation was previously used by the Trump administration to ban immigration and travel from predominantly Muslim countries and restrict asylum for those apprehended crossing the border illegally.

Critics argue that politics are steering the immigration conversation towards increasingly restrictive policies. The president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, Jennie Murray, commented on the unfortunate influence of politics in the matter. Guerline Jozef, executive director of Haitian Bridge Alliance, stated that the executive order is a direct assault on the fundamental human right to seek asylum, while a spokeswoman for the UN's refugee agency emphasized the importance of providing safe territory for those fearing persecution.

The issue of migration has become a significant challenge for President Biden in an election year, particularly as former President Trump has pledged to carry out the "largest deportation operation" in US history if re-elected. The Biden administration has clarified that the new rules will only apply during periods of increased arrivals, with exemptions made for unaccompanied children and victims of trafficking.

The Biden administration is prepared to defend the new policies in court against potential legal challenges. Mexican media has portrayed the move as one of Biden's toughest policies, though Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador downplayed the issue, citing the economic and cultural exchange that makes a border closure "impossible."