President Biden and his aides describe this year’s election as crucial — existential, even — because of Donald Trump’s hostility to democracy. Many outside experts agree.

Yet given the election’s importance, the Biden administration has been notably slow to address one of his biggest political vulnerabilities: immigration.

Polls show that immigration is a top concern of voters, often trailing only the economy. Most voters are unhappy with Biden’s handling of the issue and say they trust Trump more on it. Even Democratic mayors and governors have criticized Biden for the surge of migration on his watch.

Despite this situation, the White House has been reluctant to act aggressively for most of the past few years. Only in the past six months has it begun to do so. Administration officials are now preparing executive actions to tighten the border, according to my reporting, and Politico has written that Biden is likely to sign them next month.

In today’s newsletter, I’ll trace the history of Biden’s immigration policy and explain what’s likely to happen next.

Biden’s loosening

If you’re a loyal Democrat, I can guess what you may be thinking right now: Hey, wait! Biden tried to pass an immigration bill, and Republicans stopped him. That’s true, but it’s only one part of a larger story.