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Biden’s immigration problems grow with caravan headlines on December 27, 2023 at 10:31 pm
They’re back.
A migrant caravan slowly making its way north from Mexico’s border with Guatemala is taking center stage in the immigration debate as the Biden administration turns to Mexico for help in reducing border crossings.
The group of about 6,000 people took over immigration headlines that had been previously occupied by bipartisan Senate negotiations, but it’s likely to produce similar results.
The Senate talks to tie Ukraine aid to permanent border policy changes fizzled out as the holidays approached and are unlikely to return to the limelight in January, when Congress will be under deadline to keep the government open.
Migrant caravans, say Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials, also tend to fizzle out.
“These reported caravans generally travel very slowly and often splinter before they make progress moving northbound towards the Southwest Border. Nevertheless, CBP will continue to monitor developments in coordination with our foreign and interagency counterparts as we have with previous movements of migrants,” said a CBP spokesperson in a statement.
Nevertheless, news of the caravan has overshadowed a high-level visit to Mexico led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken — and kept migration in the spotlight.
That’s bad news for President Biden, whose two weakest issues heading into the 2024 reelection campaign are his age and border security.
But it also underscores how deeply politicized migration has become: News of caravans forming periodically surface in a negative light, though the caravans rarely have a tangible effect on border operations.
Caravans are loosely enjoined groups of people who travel through Mexico together to minimize their exposure to criminals or corrupt officials.
The caravans also serve a political purpose, giving organizers and migrants exposure for their cause; the latest caravan was dubbed an “exodus from poverty” by organizers seeking to avoid official retaliation for leaving the southern city of Tapachula without government consent.
But with large numbers of migrants moving north within caravans or in smaller groups, the logistics of caravans become mostly irrelevant to border officials.
“How they get to the border if they enter illegally has no bearing on how they are processed,” a CBP official told The Hill.
Still, the “exodus from poverty” caravan dominated the issue as Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador hosted Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall to discuss how to address the mass movement of people through Mexico.
López Obrador preemptively shut down the possibility of a law enforcement crackdown, though Mexico’s National Guard — a militarized police force created by him — has focused its resources on migration, rather than on criminal justice.
Asked Wednesday morning whether U.S. officials had called on him to tighten Mexico’s immigration controls, López Obrador said, “No.”
“No, no, because they know very well what our proposals are. We’ve always talked about addressing the root causes, that the ideal path is to help poor countries,” he told reporters hours before his meeting with Blinken.
Though López Obrador has often made the case that migration can only be stemmed by addressing root causes such as poverty, Mexican security forces have at times clashed with migrants, and his government played a key role in implementing the Trump administration’s most stringent border controls.
Programs that require quick expulsion of third-country nationals to Mexico, such as Title 42 or “remain in Mexico,” need Mexico’s acquiescence to work.
Trump obtained that green light by threatening tariffs, a tack unlikely to be taken by the Biden administration.
That gives López Obrador a wider berth in negotiations with the United States, even as CBP has closed key commercial border crossings, citing a lack of manpower to deal with migrants and commerce.
The potential for economic hurt is asymmetric — Mexico is more dependent on U.S. commerce than vice versa — but prolonged border closures would hit key U.S. economic sectors including agriculture and the auto industry.
Those deep commercial ties force Mexico to the table, but López Obrador’s tactics are different toward Biden, who sees the border as a liability, from what they were toward Trump, who saw it as his calling card.
Though López Obrador has been a willing partner in controversial bilateral border policies such as Title 42, his public-facing rhetoric prioritizes root causes over enforcement.
And López Obrador, who wants his party to remain in power after Mexico’s 2024 presidential election, has found a useful public adversary in Republicans, from presidential candidates suggesting unilateral military action to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
“They need to do more, to support more, and that’s what the Congress should be proposing, with all due respect, how to authorize resources for the cooperation and support for the poor peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, rather than imposing barriers, razor wire in the river or thinking of building walls,” said López Obrador.
They’re back. A migrant caravan slowly making its way north from Mexico’s border with Guatemala is taking center stage in the immigration debate as the Biden administration turns to Mexico for help in reducing border crossings. The group of about 6,000 people took over immigration headlines that had been previously occupied by bipartisan Senate negotiations,…
President Donald Trump says the United States might one day get rid of federal income tax because of money the government collects from tariffs on imported goods. Tariffs are extra taxes the U.S. puts on products that come from other countries.
What Trump Is Saying
Trump has said that tariff money could become so large that it might allow the government to cut income taxes “almost completely.” He has also talked about possibly phasing out income tax over the next few years if tariff money keeps going up.
How Taxes Work Now
Right now, the federal government gets much more money from income taxes than from tariffs. Income taxes bring in trillions of dollars each year, while tariffs bring in only a small part of that total. Because of this gap, experts say tariffs would need to grow by many times to replace income tax money.
Questions From Experts
Many economists and tax experts doubt that tariffs alone could pay for the whole federal budget. They warn that very high tariffs could make many imported goods more expensive for shoppers in the United States. This could hit lower- and middle‑income families hardest, because they spend a big share of their money on everyday items.
What Congress Must Do
The president can change some tariffs, but only Congress can change or end the federal income tax. That means any real plan to remove income tax would need new laws passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. So far, there is no detailed law or full budget plan on this idea.
What It Means Right Now
For now, Trump’s comments are a proposal, not a change in the law. People and businesses still have to pay federal income tax under the current rules. The debate over using tariffs instead of income taxes is likely to continue among lawmakers, experts, and voters.
Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to declassify all government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose death in 2019 continues to fuel controversy and speculation.
The order, signed Wednesday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, instructs the FBI, Department of Justice, and intelligence agencies to release documents detailing Epstein’s network, finances, and alleged connections to high-profile figures. Trump described the move as “a step toward transparency and public trust,” promising that no names would be shielded from scrutiny.
“This information belongs to the American people,” Trump said in a televised statement. “For too long, powerful interests have tried to bury the truth. That ends now.”
U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that preparations for the release are already underway. According to sources familiar with the process, the first batch of documents is expected to be made public within the next 30 days, with additional releases scheduled over several months.
Reactions poured in across the political spectrum. Supporters praised the decision as a bold act of accountability, while critics alleged it was politically motivated, timed to draw attention during a volatile election season. Civil rights advocates, meanwhile, emphasized caution, warning that some records could expose private victims or ongoing legal matters.
The Epstein case, which implicated figures in politics, business, and entertainment, remains one of the most talked-about scandals of the past decade. Epstein’s connections to influential individuals—including politicians, royals, and executives—have long sparked speculation about the extent of his operations and who may have been involved.
Former federal prosecutor Lauren Fields said the release could mark a turning point in public discourse surrounding government transparency. “Regardless of political stance, this declassification has the potential to reshape how Americans view power and accountability,” Fields noted.
Officials say redactions may still occur to protect sensitive intelligence or personal information, but the intent is a near-complete disclosure. For years, critics of the government’s handling of Epstein’s case have accused agencies of concealing evidence or shielding elites from exposure. Trump’s order promises to change that narrative.
As anticipation builds, journalists, legal analysts, and online commentators are preparing for what could be one of the most consequential information releases in recent history.
What Happened at the United Nations
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, defending Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. As he spoke, more than 100 delegates from over 50 countries stood up and left the chamber—a rare and significant diplomatic walkout. Outside the UN, thousands of protesters gathered to voice opposition to Netanyahu’s policies and call for accountability, including some who labeled him a war criminal. The protest included activists from Palestinian and Jewish groups, along with international allies.
Why Did Delegates and Protesters Walk Out?
The walkouts and protests were a response to Israel’s continued offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in widespread destruction and a significant humanitarian crisis. Many countries and individuals have accused Israel of excessive use of force, and some international prosecutors have suggested Netanyahu should face investigation by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, including claims that starvation was used as a weapon against civilians. At the same time, a record number of nations—over 150—recently recognized the State of Palestine, leaving the United States as the only permanent UN Security Council member not to join them.
International Reaction and Significance
The diplomatic walkouts and street protests demonstrate increasing global concern over the situation in Gaza and growing support for Palestinian statehood. Several world leaders, including Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, showed visible solidarity with protesters. Petro called for international intervention and, controversially, for US troops not to follow orders he viewed as supporting ongoing conflict. The US later revoked Petro’s visa over his role in the protests, which he argued was evidence of a declining respect for international law.
Why Is This News Important?
The Gaza conflict is one of the world’s most contentious and closely-watched issues. It has drawn strong feelings and differing opinions from governments, activists, and ordinary people worldwide. The United Nations, as an international organization focused on peace and human rights, is a key arena for these debates. The events surrounding Netanyahu’s speech show that many nations and voices are urging new action—from recognition of Palestinian rights to calls for sanctions against Israel—while discussion and disagreement over the best path forward continue.
This episode at the UN highlights how international diplomacy, public protests, and official policy are all intersecting in real time as the search for solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains urgent and unresolved.
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