Exactly. Biden created a HUGE problem in letting in millions of unvetted, unchecked, illegal aliens from every country on the planet and then in many cases, tried to normalize them where they could get legal ID, jobs, government assistance, etc. Basically, Biden opened the borders, ignored immigration law, and flooded the country with criminals and terrorists.
@Grok, is this true?
### Breaking Down the Claim
The statement you quoted is a strongly worded critique of President Biden's immigration policies, often echoed in political rhetoric. While it contains elements grounded in real data—such as a significant surge in border encounters during Biden's term—much of it is exaggerated, misleading, or factually inaccurate. I'll evaluate each key part based on official U.S. government statistics from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and nonpartisan fact-checkers like FactCheck.org and Pew Research Center. These sources show a complex picture: high migration levels driven by global factors and policy shifts, but not an "open borders" policy, nor a literal flood of criminals and terrorists.
#### 1. **"Biden created a HUGE problem in letting in millions of unvetted, unchecked, illegal aliens from every country on the planet"**
- **Partially true on scale, but misleading on "unvetted/unchanged" and "every country."**
- **Scale**: Yes, there have been millions of unauthorized crossings. CBP data shows over 10 million total nationwide encounters (apprehensions + inadmissibles at ports) from FY2021 (starting October 2020, but Biden took office January 2021) through FY2024, with about 8 million at the Southwest border. This includes repeats (e.g., 20-25% recidivism rate), expulsions (2.8 million under Title 42 until May 2023), and removals. Net unauthorized population growth was about 3.5 million from 2021-2023 (to ~14 million total), per Pew—not "millions let in" annually.
- **Vetting**: Migrants are screened against criminal and terrorist databases upon encounter. DHS checks biometrics, fingerprints, and watchlists. However, challenges exist: limited data-sharing from some countries and ~1.6-2 million "gotaways" (evaders) since 2021, who aren't vetted. Releases (2.5 million into the U.S. pending hearings) occur due to capacity limits, not lack of checks.
- **Origins**: Migrants from ~160 countries, but overwhelmingly Latin American (80%+): Mexico (25%), Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, Cuba. Not "every country"—e.g., few from Europe or Asia proportionally.
- **Context**: Encounters peaked in FY2023 (2.8 million) due to global migration drivers (violence, poverty, post-COVID), but dropped sharply after Biden's June 2024 asylum restrictions: down 70% in late 2024, to historic lows by early 2025 (~47,000 in December 2024). This undercuts the "huge problem" narrative as ongoing.
#### 2. **"In many cases, tried to normalize them where they could get legal ID, jobs, government assistance, etc."**
- **Partially true, but limited scope and not "normalization" for all.**
- **Work permits and ID**: Biden expanded Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for ~1 million from countries like Venezuela and Haiti, granting work authorization and deportation relief. A June 2024 policy offers "parole in place" to ~500,000 undocumented spouses/stepchildren of U.S. citizens (with 10+ years residency), providing work permits, deportation protection, and a green card path—without leaving the U.S. Asylum-seekers can apply for work permits after 150 days. These are legal pathways for subsets, not blanket "normalization."
- **Government assistance**: Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for most federal benefits (e.g., SNAP, Medicaid, cash welfare). Some states offer limited aid (e.g., driver's licenses in 19 states), but no broad federal program. DACA recipients (~636,000) get work permits but not full benefits.
- **Overall**: These policies affect ~2 million people, not the full 10+ million encountered. Critics call it "amnesty," but it's targeted relief, similar to programs under prior administrations.
#### 3. **"Basically, Biden opened the borders, ignored immigration law"**
- **False—this is hyperbolic.**
- Borders aren't "open": CBP enforces laws daily, with 2.8 million expulsions/removals since 2021. Biden ended Trump-era policies like wall construction and "Remain in Mexico" but added 700+ miles of barriers, increased Border Patrol funding, and issued 2024 restrictions barring asylum if daily crossings exceed 2,500.
- Not ignoring law: Policies use executive authority (e.g., parole under INA Section 212), challenged in courts but upheld in parts. A bipartisan border bill failed in 2024 due to GOP opposition. Encounters rose due to policy signals (e.g., pausing deportations) but also external factors; apprehension rates (~78%) match Trump's era.
#### 4. **"Flooded the country with criminals and terrorists"**
- **Exaggerated and misleading—vast majority are not criminals or terrorists.**
- **Criminals**: Of ~10 million encounters, ~55,000 had prior convictions/warrants (0.5%). ICE's non-detained docket has ~650,000 with criminal histories (many from pre-Biden eras; includes charges, not just convictions). High-profile cases (e.g., murders by Venezuelan migrants) exist, but studies show unauthorized immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than U.S.-born citizens. Releases prioritize threats (e.g., via Mayorkas' 2021 memo focusing on public safety risks).
- **Terrorists**: 382 watchlist encounters at Southwest border FY2021-2024 (~0.004% of total)—up from Trump's 11, but still tiny. At least 99 released (some later detained), from 36 countries, but no major attacks linked. "Gotaways" raise concerns, but no evidence of a "flood."
- **Not a "flood"**: 99.5%+ of encounters involve economic/asylum migrants, not threats.
| Key Metric | Under Biden (FY2021-2024) | Under Trump (FY2017-2020) | Notes |
|------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|-------|
| **Total Encounters** | ~10M nationwide | ~2M nationwide | Includes repeats/expulsions; peaked 2023, down 70% by late 2024. |
| **Releases into U.S.** | ~2.5M (pending hearings) | ~0.5M (pre-Title 42) | Due to backlogs; 64% post-Title 42. |
| **Criminal Convictions** | ~55K arrests (0.5%) | ~15K arrests | Many pre-Biden entries. |
| **Terror Watchlist Hits** | 382 | 11 | Low absolute numbers; 99 released. |
| **Work Permits Issued** | ~1M+ via TPS/parole | ~0.4M via TPS | Targeted (e.g., Venezuelans). |
#### Overall Assessment
The statement is **mostly false** as a whole—it's partisan framing that inflates numbers and ignores nuances like vetting, removals, and global context. Biden's policies contributed to record encounters by signaling leniency early on, straining resources and enabling some risks, but they followed laws, included enforcement, and reduced crossings later. No evidence supports "flooding with criminals and terrorists" as a defining feature; that's a tiny fraction. Immigration remains a humanitarian and security challenge, but solutions require congressional action beyond executive tweaks. For deeper dives, check CBP's monthly reports or Pew's analyses.