America’s Close Border Policy During COVID-19 Pandemic

White Paper on America’s Close Border Policy During COVID-19 Pandemic
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Executive summary
America's close border policy during the COVID-19 pandemic stopped immigrants from entering America to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection. This white paper uses factual details and analyzes how this close border policy has caused deleterious impacts on immigrants by exposing them to deadly infections, depriving them of shelters, and disallowing them to seek venues of economic prosperity. In this regard, this white paper also finds how this close border policy negatively impacted the American economy by depriving local businesses of low-wage labour and raw materials. However, the Biden administration’s renewal of border policy based on the principle of legal immigration endorses the effectiveness of the proposed open border policy for America. After using an individual case study, this white paper makes a strong case for the implementation of an open border policy. It provides recommendations and realistic and practical implementation strategies to accommodate immigrants usefully. In this way, this white paper evaluates the economic repercussions of border closure during the pandemic for America; besides, it provides an alternative and useful solution to resolve the issue of immigrant influx. Hence, this white paper is a useful factsheet to be considered by the Biden Administration.
Introduction
The term "open border" refers to a state policy that allows free or easy access to immigrants and asylum seekers to enter its territory. Since the United States is a signatory of the International Refugee Law, it is bound not to repatriate a refugee or asylum seeker forcibly (Blue et al., 2021). However, of late, the United States has reinforced and consolidated its closed border policies; the "close border" refers to the use of legal measures to keep immigrants and asylum seekers out of American territory. Moreover, it involves implementing excessive detention measures and rapid returns to those who manage to step on American soil (Blue et al., 2021). The U.S. close border policy became more practical and strict during Trump's tenure as President as he intensified legal ways to exclude asylum seekers using physical means (Blue et al., 2021). Trump's border policy was the epitome of strict implementation of restrictions on immigrants.
The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified the Trump administration's efforts to prevent entry of asylum seekers and immigrants as enforcement of Title 42 (coronavirus exclusion) policy. Accordingly, the CDC used the health emergency as a pretext to dismantle the asylum-seeking process and close the borders for immigrants for good (Blue et al., 2021). This policy is based on the conception that immigrants threaten national security, the healthcare system, and the economy. Between April 2020 and December 2020, American borders remained closed even for legal immigrants to protect the American economy and preserve the jobs of American citizens (Loweree et al., 2020).
However, this close border policy significantly damaged the American economy, especially during the pandemic, as an interruption in supplies of trade stock from American trade partners resulted in significant economic loss for American retailers and America's trade partners (Horsley, 2019). Hence, the impact of an "open border" on the U.S. economy is significantly positive, and its border closure during the pandemic negatively affected the U.S. economy, and its impact still hampers America's economic recovery with specific reference to Joe Biden’s recent border policies. The following white paper, therefore, uses credible references to substantiate this fact.
Methodology
This white paper uses a qualitative approach to evaluate facts and figures related to the economic impact of closed borders for immigrants and asylum seekers during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, it undertakes a systematic review of literature highlighting the background of America's close border policy during the pandemic; furthermore, this review also evaluates its pros and cons to provide substantial empirical evidence of its negative economic repercussions. Finally, this paper provides a rationale for implementing the open border policy for immigrants and asylum seekers and adds recommendations and mechanisms for their implementation.
Literature Review
America’s intensified border closure policy during the COVID-19 pandemic proved fatal for asylum seekers and immigrants as they faced economic challenges in the form of loss of work opportunities. Moreover, their economic hardship had a trickle-down effect on America's domestic economy as most of them work in the informal sector, mostly in the domestic work environment (Mengesha et al., 2022). The long-term detainment of refugees and asylum seekers induces them to resort to criminal activities, especially in regions notorious for crimes; some experts have labelled trapped immigrants as "honeypots" for drug trafficking organizations (Blue et al., 2021). Hence, instead of working productively to support the American economy, border closures compel immigrants and asylum seekers to seek employment with criminals and smugglers, and this tendency poses more challenges to America at the economic and social levels.
One of the undesirable consequences of border closures during the pandemic was that it exposed immigrants and asylum seekers to a greater threat of COVID-19 infection; moreover, the media remained focused on domestic infection and healthcare emergencies. As a result, the healthcare situation at American borders worsened over time (Mengesha et al., 2022). The close border policy during the pandemic also led to social marginalization and stigmatization of the immigrants, as they did not gain the due relief from the American government (Gilman, 2020). When the Trump administration decided to build a wall on Mexican borders to exclude asylum, it practically eradicated the American asylum system without knowing the far-reaching economic and social consequences of this closure for America (Gilman, 2020). This aspect of America's border closure policy during the pandemic exposes the inherent perils associated with this policy.
A novel aspect of the Trump administration's close border policy during the pandemic was that it even refused to give asylum to those having symptoms of a communicable disease. Furthermore, the Trump administration's border policy also barred any immigrant or asylum seeker from entering the United States if they belonged to a country with an outbreak of a communicable disease (Garcini et al., 2020). The border closure during the pandemic also denied the immigrants and asylum seekers the fundamental hearing process of their asylum applications, as they had to wait in Mexico before their cases were decided at the border (Gilman, 2020). The close border policy also aggravated asylum seekers' mental and psychological health since they experienced severe trauma and stress associated with unfair and highly strict immigration processes (Garcini et al., 2020). Hence, border closure during the pandemic proved a fatal experience for these people, characterized by their increasing healthcare vulnerability, economic downturn, and social marginalization.
Following the lines of his predecessor, the current American President, Joe Biden, has expanded the pandemic-era restriction called Title 42 on the Mexican border to limit the influx of immigrants. However, Biden’s border policy also allows sponsored immigrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Venezuela at the rate of 30,000 people per month (Dmalloy, 2023). This shift in border policy indicates Biden’s administration’s understanding of the significance of open borders and the positive role of immigrants in America’s economic prosperity.
This literature review highlights the need to consider asylum seekers' and immigrants' conditions based on the principle of humanity and individual self-respect and dignity. Therefore, using an open border policy is a viable option as it ensures the security and protection of immigrants' dignity and health and reinforces the American economy.
Policy Option or Policy Context
America's close border policy during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly haltered the cross-border traffic; as a result, America’s trading partners found it extremely challenging to undertake crucial economic exchange with Amer...