“The Biden administration intentionally dismantled the border.”
Attributed to The Federalist (article author)
The article alleges the Biden administration "didn’t forget to secure the border; it intentionally dismantled it," attributing recent border problems to deliberate policy choices by the administration.
What the proof shows
The Biden administration did intentionally end or change several Trump-era border policies (e.g., formally terminating the Migrant Protection Protocols) and changed enforcement priorities — actions critics describe as "dismantling." But primary government records, rulemaking and agency statements show the administration simultaneously adopted new enforcement rules (Circumvention of Lawful Pathways), expanded parole and lawful-pathway programs, increased CBP processing capacity (CBP One) and issued planning to prepare for the end of Title 42. Official documents therefore show deliberate policy changes with stated humanitarian and legal rationales, and also deliberate steps intended to strengthen processing and enforcement. The claim that the administration "intentionally dismantled the border" overstates what the documentary record shows: it is accurate that specific programs were ended, but misleading to present that as a unified, intentional effort to remove border security rather than a mix of policy reversals, legal compliance, humanitarian considerations and complementary enforcement measures.
Corrected version
The administration ended some Trump-era enforcement programs (for example, formally terminating MPP) and changed enforcement priorities, while also issuing new rules and programs (CBP One, parole processes, the "Circumvention of Lawful Pathways" rule and other measures) intended to manage and enforce the border differently; critics argue those changes weakened border security, but government records show a mix of policy reversals, legal compliance and new enforcement measures rather than a single policy of "dismantling."
Automated evidence confidence: 0%
References and proof
Every link was reachable when published. Each proof point states how that source bears on the claim.
Termination of the Migrant Protection Protocols Program ↗
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Mayorkas memo)After extensive review, the Secretary ... concluded that the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) should be terminated.
DHS Continues to Prepare for End of Title 42; Announces New Border Enforcement Measures and Additional Safe and Orderly Processes (press release) ↗
Department of Homeland Security (press release)DHS announced new border enforcement measures to improve border security, limit irregular migration, and create additional safe and orderly processes ... establishing new parole processes ... and providing a new mechanism (CBP One app) for noncitizens to schedule appointments to present themselves at ports of entry.
Circumvention of Lawful Pathways, Final Rule (Federal Register / DOJ & DHS) ↗
Federal Register (Departments of Justice and Homeland Security rulemaking)The Departments will use their Title 8 authorities to process, detain, and remove ... the rule will make migrants without a CBP One appointment ineligible for asylum unless they meet narrow exceptions.
Securing the Border, Interim Final Rule (Federal Register, 2024 preamble & data) ↗
Federal Register (Department of Homeland Security)CBP completed approximately 1.7 million encounters at the SWB in FY2021, 2.4 million in FY2022, and 2.5 million in FY2023 ... CBP One appointments increased capacity and were intended to improve CBP's ability to manage encounters at ports of entry.
CBP One Appointments Increased to 1,450 Per Day (national media release) ↗
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (press release)CBP One appointments increased to 1,450 per day ... Individuals with CBP One appointments are processed under Title 8 and are excepted from certain asylum-eligibility presumptions in the new rules.
PART 1: CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE: HOW BIDEN'S POLICIES FUELED THE BORDER CRISIS (House Homeland Security hearing transcript and report, Mar. 25, 2025) ↗
House Committee on Homeland Security (hearing transcript/report)Hearing title and prepared statements assert that Administration actions "dismantl[ed] years of robust border security measures" and examine policy changes the Committee says contributed to high encounter numbers.
DHS Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2023–2027 ↗
Department of Homeland Security (strategic plan)DHS has issued several new rules that have expanded the capacity of DHS to secure the homeland ... May 11, 2023, DHS and DOJ issued a joint final rule, Circumvention of Lawful Pathways, which incentivizes the use of lawful pathways by imposing a rebuttable presumption of asylum ineligibility.
Biden at the Three-Year Mark: The Most Important Immigration Actions and Their Effects (analysis) ↗
Migration Policy Institute (research/analysis)Post-Title 42 plan rests on a new Circumvention rule, expanded parole processes, CBP One, and expanded refugee / humanitarian processing — the policy mix and external push factors jointly shaped migration flows.
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