Joe Biden is poised to order a tightening of immigration across the US’s southern border with Mexico in an attempt to neutralise one of his biggest political weaknesses in the US election against Donald Trump.
The US president is set to sign an executive order on Tuesday that would limit migrants’ ability to seek asylum if they have crossed the border illegally, enabling their rapid deportation, people familiar with the plan said.
Biden’s move marks a bet that he can limit the political damage to his campaign from the surge in immigration that has unfolded during his White House tenure, and prevent a spike in border crossings ahead of the election.