Dems Admit Biden’s Border Failure Contributed to 2024 Loss: ‘We Destroyed Ourselves’

WASHINGTON — In the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s resounding victory, Democrats have quietly acknowledged that their handling of the border crisis played a significant role in the party’s defeat. After Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris in a bitter election, party insiders admitted that their lax stance on immigration alienated voters, contributing to the loss of the White House and both chambers of Congress.

Biden rescinded Trump’s border and asylum policies, unleashing a wave of new illegal immigration, Democratic senators admitted. REUTERS

Sources close to Democratic lawmakers told The Hill that the party’s failure to address the border crisis in a more controlled and pragmatic way had catastrophic consequences. “We destroyed ourselves on the immigration issue in ways that were entirely predictable,” said a Democratic senator, speaking anonymously. “That’s political malpractice, not someone else’s fault.”

The border crisis had been a long-standing concern for several Democratic leaders, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams sounding the alarm about the potential consequences of a porous border.

Adams, who had warned the party for years, pointed out that the influx of migrants, coupled with work permits and taxpayer-funded services, was frustrating working-class voters. A source close to Adams claimed, “The Democrats didn’t listen to him, and now they are paying the price.”

President Biden speaks with US Customs and Border Protection police at the Bridge of the Americas in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 8, 2023. AFP via Getty Images

As immigration topped the list of concerns for many voters in 2024, Trump’s messaging focused heavily on border security. His campaign proposed mass deportations, emphasising the removal of criminal migrants—policies that resonated with a majority of Hispanic voters.

Despite Harris touting her experience as a “border-state prosecutor,” the administration’s resistance to stricter immigration measures undermined her efforts to tackle the issue, leading to growing disillusionment among voters.

Trump made significant gains in areas traditionally dominated by Democrats, including heavily Hispanic regions like South Texas and South Florida. Exit polls showed that Trump won a majority of Hispanic male voters and gained support from Black men in crucial swing states, thanks in part to his economic proposals such as tax relief on overtime pay and car loan interest.

Polls indicated that the border crisis, combined with frustrations over the economy—especially inflation and high interest rates—was a driving factor in Trump’s electoral success.

Several Senate Democrats had privately criticised President Biden’s border policies, which only worsened as Harris, who was tasked with managing the border situation, failed to make progress in stemming the surge of migrants.

President-elect Donald Trump won the Nov. 5 election by pledging to end illegal crossings and launch a mass deportation. AP

One anonymous Democratic senator expressed frustration over Biden’s decision to end the construction of the US-Mexico border wall, terminate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and impose a moratorium on deportations. “Why would you do that?” the senator lamented. “What’s the benefit of that?”

Over time, an increasing share of those encountered at the border were allowed into the US to press their claims within the badly backlogged asylum system. James Breeden for NY Post

Some high-profile Democratic critics, such as Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, left the party and became independents, adding to the division within the party. Meanwhile, Democratic Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, and Jon Tester of Montana lost their re-election bids as Trump carried their states.

Despite growing concerns from party insiders, critical figures in Biden’s White House and re-election campaign brushed off the criticisms. Adams, who had warned Biden’s future campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, about the dangers of not addressing immigration, was rebuffed. Sources close to Adams said that Chavez accused him of using Republican talking points in his warnings.

Trump, pictured with an Arizona plaque commemorating the 200th mile of his border wall, was supported by a majority of Hispanic men, according to exit polls. REUTERS

As the election aftermath continues to unfold, a source close to Adams pointed out that voters now have a clear mandate to fix the immigration system. “The Democrats should have listened to Adams,” the source said.

The 2024 election boiled down to three major issues, according to a House Democratic source: inflation, crime, and immigration. “Biden wasn’t playing with a full deck during his term and was co-opted by the far left on all three of these issues,” the source added. “The socialist left has taken over the party.”

Border crossings hit a record high in December, with more than 302,000 encounters. While the Biden administration introduced a policy to restrict asylum processing, a growing number of migrants were allowed to stay in the US while they awaited their hearings.

“The story of this election and Donald Trump ultimately winning isn’t complicated. It came down to three things: inflation, the border and crime, and woke bullshit,” a House Democratic source said. Christopher Sadowski

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed that over 85% of those detained for illegal border crossings were released into the country.

Republicans continue to accuse the Biden administration of manipulating the immigration system by allowing asylum seekers to enter through legal points of entry using the CBP One app, claiming it’s an unlawful expansion of parole authority. The debate over border security and immigration reform remains at the forefront of national political discourse following the 2024 election.