An MSNBC “Morning Joe” contributor has openly criticized the Biden administration’s handling of immigration, calling it “not Biden’s finest moment.”
Steve Rattner, a former Obama administration official and current manager of Michael Bloomberg’s assets, also conceded that President-elect Donald Trump “is not wrong” about the low number of illegal border crossings during his term.
Rattner’s comments, made Thursday during a segment analyzing key trends for 2024, were later reported by Mediaite. Using a graph from his recent New York Times op-ed, Rattner highlighted the significant increase in border crossings after Biden took office in January 2021.
Border Crossing Trends Under Biden and Trump
“The border was not Biden’s finest moment, frankly,” Rattner said, pointing to data showing an increase in migrant encounters from approximately 74,000 per month when Trump left office to nearly 300,000 per month during the Biden administration.
He attributed the spike to “some things Biden said” and the administration’s decision to implement a deportation moratorium.
Rattner noted that crossings have since decreased to around 100,000 per month, bringing the numbers closer to those seen under Trump.
“You can see what happened here,” Rattner said, explaining the sharp rise and subsequent decline. “We went up the hill, and we went down the hill. But unfortunately, that was pretty costly to Biden during the election.”
Customs and Border Protection Data
According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), more than 7.2 million migrant encounters have been reported at the U.S.-Mexico border since January 2021. Between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, over 1.5 million “getaways” — migrants detected but not apprehended — were recorded.
Additionally, there were 44,000 arrests for illegal crossings in December, marking the sixth consecutive month with numbers below the monthly average in 2019. A Goldman Sachs analysis found that 60% of migrants crossing between 2021 and 2024 entered the U.S. illegally.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, 2.4 million immigrants entered the country annually during this period.
Trump Transition Team Responds
Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, reaffirmed the president-elect’s commitment to strict border policies, stating:
“President Trump was given a mandate by the American people to stop the invasion of illegal immigrants, secure the border, and deport dangerous criminals and terrorists that make our communities less safe. He will deliver.”
Political Consequences for Biden
Rattner emphasized that the Biden administration’s handling of immigration hurt his political standing during the 2024 election. He also noted that while border crossings have declined, the issue has remained a significant challenge for the administration.
The White House has yet to comment on Rattner’s critique. However, his remarks underscore the ongoing debate over U.S. immigration policies as President-elect Trump prepares for office.
