President Biden faces his first major test with the crisis at the southern border, a deteriorating situation that may expose the limits of focusing the administration on reversing former President Donald Trump’s policies.
Trump also devoted much of his presidency to undoing the handiwork of his predecessor, President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president for eight years. But the surge of migrants at the border, including a large number of minors being housed in government facilities, is at least partially attributable to Biden easing immigration controls, including some introduced or strengthened by Trump, and rolling out the rhetorical welcome mat in contrast with the last administration, which made stopping illegal border crossings a top priority.
