Fareed Zakaria: Biden Should 'Learn' from Trump's Border Policies

Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," asserted that certain aspects of the Trump administration's border policies were effective and suggested that President Biden should consider adopting them.

In a recent interview, CNN host Fareed Zakaria sparked controversy by suggesting that President Biden could benefit from emulating certain aspects of former President Trump's border policies. Zakaria argued that Trump's policies were more effective in securing the border than the current administration's approach and alleged that the modern asylum system is being exploited.

"This is a place where Biden should learn something from Trump," Zakaria stated on PBS' "Firing Line." He acknowledged that Trump's efforts were often thwarted by courts but emphasized that his actions alone inspired confidence among Americans.

Zakaria criticized the current asylum process, asserting that it is "broken" and being manipulated by cartels. He advocated for a radical overhaul of the system, proposing the elimination of asylum applications within the United States and requiring individuals to apply from their home countries.

When asked whether Biden should strategically adopt Trump's border policies, Zakaria replied affirmatively. He specifically endorsed Trump's policies that required asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their cases were processed.

Zakaria explained that previous decades' illegal immigration involved individuals attempting to evade law enforcement to cross the border. However, under the current system, migrants are aided by cartels and seek to be apprehended by law enforcement to be processed as asylum seekers.

"They're not running away from law enforcement, they're running towards law enforcement," Zakaria said. "Because they have figured out that all they have to say is the magic words, ‘I have a credible fear of persecution,’ and bingo, you’re in the country legally. You get two court hearings that can take seven years, meanwhile, you slip into the shadows of the economy."

To address this issue, Zakaria proposed that Biden declare a national security emergency, deploy the National Guard, and suspend the asylum process to overhaul the system. He acknowledged that courts may overturn aspects of such a plan but argued that it would demonstrate that Biden is actively addressing the border crisis.

Zakaria believes that even if Trump's efforts were not fully successful, they sent a message that he was attempting to resolve the issue. He urged Biden to take similar steps, even if they may be met with legal challenges.

Zakaria's comments have sparked debate and criticism. Some have accused him of supporting inhumane policies, while others have questioned the effectiveness of Trump's approach. However, the issue of border security remains a complex and contentious one, and Zakaria's perspective has added a new dimension to the discussion.