WASHINGTON (AP), — Democrats used the opportunity to challenge Republicans’ 2020 campaign by demanding that the country’s broken immigration system be fixed. We’ll end the cruel treatment of migrants crossing the border and implement humane and lasting policies that work, argued the argument.

However, despite Joe Biden’s presidency being a year old, there has not been any action. There is also growing concern privately within the party about the inability of the Biden administration to strike the right balance regarding immigration.

It’s a different story publically. Washington legislators are mostly avoiding criticism of their leader on a polarizing subject that has caused divisions within their party, especially as there is concern about whether Democrats will be able to hold onto power next year.

It is a difficult balance act to achieve, according to Douglas Rivlin (spokesman for America’s Voice), an organization that advocates for immigration reform. Even a small amount of friendly fire can prove difficult, especially when Republicans are relentless in their negativity towards the president.

He said, “It’s difficult but they’ve got the will to do it.” “They will face voters next year, all of the people on the Hill. They are, Biden isn’t. They must be clear that they are pushing Biden to become the Democratic president we voted for, not being afraid of the issues as the politics can be difficult.

Democrats pointed out the House’s recent approval of a massive spending bill that was backed by White House. This bill would allow for more work permits and other less ambitious immigration provisions. Biden promised millions of illegal immigrants a path to U.S. citizenship when he took office. Democrats claim that the spending bill contains enough measures to demonstrate that the party will not shy away from immigration issues during the next year’s midterms.

“I don’t see it as being the fault of president per se…. These challenges that we’re facing today, solely fall on the shoulders of president,” said Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar. Escobar represents El Paso, Texas across the border with Juarez, Mexico. “It’s a collective obligation that all of us have, and I believe Democrats have solutions. We need to look in on them.”

Rep. Joaquin Castro from San Antonio, her Democratic colleague, dodged a question asking if House members from swing districts would be forced to leave Biden in 2022. She replied, “I’m going wait on political talks.”

Castro said that the party had done all it could on immigration this session due to Senate rules that prevented larger legislation from moving with the minimum of 60 votes.

Castro stated that Democrats currently control the White House, Senate, and House. He also said that they have worked as hard as possible to increase the number of members in each chamber to obtain protections from deportation and workplace permits. Castro added, “Right now, Democrats hold the White House, Senate, and House.”

Beto O’Rourke (former Democratic Rep.) recently announced that he would run for Texas governor. He went almost immediately to the U.S. border with Mexico after he announced his candidacy. There, he said the White House was doing no favors to his party.

O’Rourke stated that “It’s obvious that Biden could do a better job on the border,” during an interview with KTVT TV Dallas-Fort Worth. It is not enough of an priority.

O’Rourke, like most top Democrats will have to challenge the Republican narrative that the increase in illegal border crossings this year has reached “crisis levels”. Texas Republican Governor. Greg Abbott’s campaign accuse O’Rourke, Texas Republican Governor, of supporting Biden’s open borders policies. O’Rourke funded billboards that featured O’Rourke’s face changing into the face of the president.

Rourke’s campaign manager Nick Rathod sees “neglect” by Democrats from all parties, not just the Biden Administration, in engaging in an authentic way in the communities along the border.

It’s created a vacuum. We want to fill that vacuum.

Immigration is complex and has not been solved by any administration. Biden finds himself caught between two competing interests: showing compassion and dealing with illegal immigrants seeking better lives in the United States.

According to the administration, it is working to address root causes of migration and broker long-term solutions to make migrants want to return to their home countries. They have pushed for regulations to speed up the adjudication of asylum cases so that migrants don’t sit in limbo and to reduce the huge backlog.

Biden spent most of the year undoing Trump’s cruel rules. These laws clamped down upon asylum seekers and reduced the number of refugees permitted to the U.S., before closing the border completely in the name COVID-19.

Despite this effort, Biden still faces criticism from progressives as well as immigrant advocates. They claim that he continues to use inhumane Trump-era policies.

The “Remain in Mexico” program is one of the most controversial. It allows migrants to wait in refugee camps to await resolution of their immigration claims at the Mexican border. The judge ordered it to be stopped. However, court papers show that the Biden administration is still waiting for final agreements with Mexico before it can resume.

“We reject a system in which people with life-threatening consequences are forced to navigate complex legal systems — in a language and culture they may not know,” said the Catholic Legal Immigration Network in a statement.

Title 42 is another provision that grants federal health officials the power to take extraordinary measures during a pandemic in order to prevent transmission of infectious diseases. The White House appealed the decision of a judge to end the regulation.

To justify deporting Haitian migrants who arrived in Texas, the administration used this provision. Biden’s team was criticized by even his staunchest allies after viral photos of U.S. Border Patrol agents riding on horseback and using aggressive tactics.

Republicans continue to pound on the border security issue, determined to keep it in the news. Some voters still consider the issue a top priority. An earlier CNN poll showed that 14% of Americans ranked immigration second to the economy in their top concerns.

From September 2020 to September 2021 the U.S. Border Patrol recorded more than 1.6 Million encounters with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico frontier. This is more than four times the number reported in the previous fiscal year, and the highest annual total ever recorded.

As the pandemic slows global migration, the number of encounters dropped to around 400,000 over the past 12 months. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, the rebound is higher than the 2000 record. This includes expulsions where migrants are immediately turned away, as well as apprehensions, when they’re held by U.S. authorities at least temporarily.

Although the U.S. system remains ill-equipped for handling such a surge, career immigration officials have warned of an imminent increase. Border stations are temporary places that can be used for short-term care and not intended to serve as long-term care. It is a logistical nightmare, especially for children crossing the border alone. They require more coordination and care.