On the Border Crisis, Joe Biden Lurches from Can’t to Won’t

When it comes to the border crisis over which Joe Biden has presided, the president has been on a journey. And he seems to be determined to drag us all along with him, whether we like it or not.

In early January, when the prospects for bipartisan legislation that would have tightened border-security statutes and contributed additional funds to policing the U.S. side of the Rio Grande looked reasonably bright, the president insisted his hands were tied. “The Biden administration is asking Mexico to help curb the huge flow of migrants into the U.S., as Biden runs out of options to fix a problem that is hurting his polling,” NBC News reported.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

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When it comes to the border crisis over which Joe Biden has presided, the president has been on a journey. And he seems to be determined to drag us all along with him, whether we like it or not.

In early January, when the prospects for bipartisan legislation that would have tightened border-security statutes and contributed additional funds to policing the U.S. side of the Rio Grande looked reasonably bright, the president insisted his hands were tied. “The Biden administration is asking Mexico to help curb the huge flow of migrants into the U.S., as Biden runs out of options to fix a problem that is hurting his polling,” NBC News reported.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.