At least two mayors from cities along the Texas border are traveling to Washington on Tuesday for an announcement by President Joe Biden. He is set to issue an executive order aimed at significantly reducing the number of migrants allowed to apply for asylum in the U.S.
Brownsville Mayor John Cowen and Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza both confirmed they received invitations from the White House for the immigration announcement. Cowen plans to attend, while Garza expects to finalize his plans on Monday.
The Democratic mayor of Eagle Pass, a Texas town on the Mexico border heavily impacted by migrant arrivals, has not yet received an invitation as of Sunday. The mayor of McAllen indicated he was invited but cannot attend due to a prior commitment.
The White House did not immediately respond to queries about which other mayors were invited to the announcement.
Joe Biden talks in a campaign (Via Jim Moore/Getty Images)
Last week, the Associated Press reported that the White House was completing an executive order that could halt asylum requests and automatically turn away migrants once U.S. border officials encounter a certain daily number of people.
This move is anticipated despite a recent decline in border crossings at the southern U.S. border since December, largely due to increased enforcement efforts by Mexico. However, Biden aims to preempt any potential increase in crossings later in the year as the fall elections approach, when cooler weather typically leads to higher migration numbers.
Immigration remains a key concern for voters ahead of the November elections, with Republicans looking to leverage the issue against Biden. Democrats argue that Republicans, influenced by Donald Trump, derailed a bipartisan congressional deal on border issues that would have imposed the strictest asylum restrictions in years.
