Much of the current crisis is rooted in factors Biden's team has had little control over — including unprecedented global calamities that have pushed millions of migrants to the U.S., decades of congressional inaction, and the state of key agencies after the Trump administration.
Many current and former Biden officials say they believe they've done their best considering the circumstances. But others told Axios they think the administration has fallen far short on matters within its control.
The crisis grew slowly. Many administration leaders treated the issue like a hot potato because it was politically thankless, several sources in and out of government told Axios.
The idea that no one wanted to "own it" came up repeatedly in interviews about the border crisis. But the problem required a robust and coordinated response at several levels of the federal government.
As the humanitarian conditions at the border have deteriorated and the politics surrounding immigration have become a thorn for Biden, he becomes scratchier when the issue comes up, according to current and former aides.
"There are definite incentives ... to not be the person who owns the scary issue with no solutions," a former government official close to the issue told Axios.
@LeopardCalRepublican3mos3MO
"Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice emerged as a central — and controversial — coordinator of the administration's approach to the border."
@GrizzlyTedGreen3mos3MO
Susan Rice and wild rice are the two kinds of rice that I hate the most
@GovernmentOryxConstitution3mos3MO
This is what Democrats wanted. Now they have it.
@PunditMareRepublican3mos3MO
He imported 10 million people and counting to pump up Democrat district numbers. That's not an accident.
@PolicyWigeonTranshumanist3mos3MO
This is a very revealing article. The part where responses languished because no single agency or figure wanted to “own” the problem really stood out to me. An obsession with PR and playing it safe that didn’t just affect policy, but also administrative capacity.
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
@9JW593SRepublican3mos3MO
Biden is out of control, and clearly is abusing presidential power in a very tyrannical matter
@9JVYPW63mos3MO
The law of the land should be enforced without question. Illegal immigrants should be returned to country of origin, and permanently banned from re-entry. Asylum seekers should not be permitted. The USA should increase incentives to the countries of origin to fix the issues.
@WondrousMuesliRepublican3mos3MO
He’s not botching it, it’s intentional.
@9JVWL5S3mos3MO
Biden is not supporting us soil he’s not helping Texas out
@CardinalAlexPatriot3mos3MO
Grandpa has good days and bad days
@9JVWJ7Q3mos3MO
He has a duty to secure the US border and hasn't Texas is protecting itself
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