Too late to put off migrant measures; it's time to deal with the border

Every new drive to make even a little progress on reforming our rickety immigration system brings up recollections of the many failed negotiations of recent decades. But it’s long since past time to shrug and say of Congress, “There they go again.” Migrants keep surging by the thousands across the southern border. Local jurisdictions from New York to Texas struggle to cope — physically, organizationally, and fiscally.

We have abandoned any expectation of a truly comprehensive immigration deal before Election Day. But we still need emergency repairs to the existing system. That will require both sides of the party polarity. The question now: Is the House of Representatives under Speaker Mike Johnson capable of agreeing to a deal that gives the administration the tools to stem the influx?

Not yet, it seems. The House GOP’s move to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the border situation adds up to a silly grandstanding gesture and a waste of time. It’s headed nowhere in the Senate and lacks constitutional validity. Long Island’s three GOP representatives would do well to distance themselves from this capricious impeachment. President Joe Biden’s administration certainly took too long between denying a migrant crisis earlier in his term and demanding action now, but that’s not legal grounds to force out a Cabinet officer.

A bipartisan mix of senators recently backed a proposal to impose new border controls and reportedly give the White House authority to pause asylum processing when migrant crossings average 5,000 daily over a week, or exceed 8,500 in a single day. Biden said: “If that bill were the law today, I’d shut down the border right now and fix it quickly.” Johnson isn’t supporting it, however, saying Biden doesn’t need Congress to do that.

But congressional approval could help. When migrants intent on crossing the border are kept in Mexico, the administration can put more focus on a structured processing of those applying for asylum — and on getting those already in the U.S. awaiting a decision on their status into jobs that go begging to be filled.

Relief is possible. After peaking in December, the number of migrants coming through Mexico slowed in recent weeks. U.S. officials attribute this to beefed-up enforcement and Mexican authorities picking up migrants, sending them to that nation’s southern border, and flying some home to Venezuela.

Since the current influx consists of people from all over the world, however, we need our own solutions. Tracking, vetting, and when necessary, deporting migrants and asylum-seekers needs to be as swift and efficient as possible. Johnson can help by backing off the linkage he imposed between border issues and foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel on which members of his chaotic caucus disagree.

Backlogs, red tape, and a lack of reliability and clarity in the immigration system lie at the core of the mess. Can’t top elected officials of different parties even agree to address what’s become a governing emergency?