Biden's Legal Troubles: Which Laws Were Broken?

There have been several accusations levelled against US President Joe Biden regarding the breaking of laws. One of the most notable allegations involves the mishandling of classified documents, with classified documents being found in his former office and personal residence. While Biden and his legal team denied any wrongdoing, the incident sparked investigations and political controversy. Additionally, Biden has been accused of breaking the law by providing millions of migrants with work permits, even those without legal rights to be in the country. There are also claims that Biden has exceeded his authority by forgiving student loans without congressional authorization.

Biden breaks law to give migrants work permits

US President Joe Biden has been accused of breaking the law by granting work permits to millions of migrants. Since taking office, the Biden administration has given over 3.3 million migrants an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), commonly known as a federal work permit, despite many not having the legal right to be in America. As of February 2024, there were a further 1.4 million pending EAD applications.

In many cases, migrants are given the right to work before being granted asylum, a green card, or other legal documentation that allows them to remain in the country. In 1996, the Immigration and Naturalization Service introduced a rule requiring asylum seekers to wait 180 days before applying for work. Asylum is intended for those fleeing persecution and is not meant for people simply seeking better jobs.

The Biden administration has expanded admissions and created new admission pipelines under eight distinct and significant programs, including population transfers from Afghanistan and Ukraine, and "family reunification" programs featuring direct flights to the US for those from several Latin American countries. There is also a separate direct flight program from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela for those who may or may not have "family reunification" connections in the US.

As of Fall 2023, about 2.3 million people had entered the US through these programs, with only cursory health and background vetting. None of these programs confer lawful immigration status on the new arrivals, whose "twilight" status cannot lead to a green card or legal permanent residency. Most are entering under what critics call the "likely illegal" use of the administration's "parole authority."

In 2022, 1.279 million work permits were issued, rising to 2.139 million in 2023, and 2024 is on track to break 3.3 million. Parolee is not a category that the government keeps numbers for, but it is estimated that up to half of those work permits went to parolees.

Without congressional action, most of these parolees will remain in a legal limbo, dependent on executive actions to renew their temporary right to remain in the country. However, there are no efforts to deport them. This "Green Card Lite" was a key element in the decisions of California and Illinois to allow non-citizens to become police officers. Several Republican states have also granted professional and trade licenses to anyone with a work permit and the necessary qualifications.

The Biden administration's actions are seen as creating facts on the ground that will force Congress to accept its vision of the border. The establishment's acceptance of the temporary work permit as proof of lawful immigrant presence is seen as a statement that Biden's demographic and political revolution is a fait accompli.

Biden's executive willfulness unhinged from commitment to law

In June 2024, the New York Post reported that the Biden administration was circumventing US immigration laws by granting work permits to migrants in record numbers. More than 3.3 million migrants had received an Employment Authorization Document (commonly known as a federal work permit) since Biden took office, despite many not having the legal right to be in the country. The Biden administration has also expanded admissions or created new admission pipelines under eight distinct and significant programs, including population transfers from Afghanistan and Ukraine, and "family reunification" programs featuring direct flights to the US for those from certain countries.

These actions have been described as an "end-run around the nation's immigration laws". The Biden administration has issued over 530 immigration-related executive actions, surpassing the previous record compiled by Trump over four years. Many of these migrants are given the right to work before they are granted asylum, a green card, or other legal documentation. This goes against the 1996 rule that asylum seekers must wait 180 days before applying for work.

In addition, the Biden administration has paroled in nearly 700,000 illegal border-crossers in 2022-23, with most having immediate eligibility for a work permit and a Social Security card. This has effectively nullified the 180-day wait rule, as those receiving parole can apply for asylum later. The number of work permits issued has increased year after year, with 1.279 million in 2022, 2.139 million in 2023, and on track to break 3.3 million in 2024.

The Biden administration's use of its "parole authority" is likely illegal, as it does not confer lawful immigration status on the new arrivals. These individuals are stuck in a legal limbo, dependent on executive actions to renew their temporary right to remain in the country. This has been referred to as a "Green Card Lite", and has been accepted by some states as proof of lawful immigrant presence.

The Biden administration's actions on immigration have been criticised as creating facts on the ground that will force Congress to bend to its vision of the border. This demographic and political revolution has been described as a "nation without borders and a country without laws".

In addition to immigration, Biden has also been accused of breaking the law in other areas. For example, he has been rebuked by the Supreme Court for his attempts to forgive student loans without congressional authorisation or justification in the law. This has been characterised as "executive willfulness unhinged from any commitment to abide by the law or the will of Congress".

Furthermore, the Biden-Harris administration has been blamed for the current border crisis, wasting billions in taxpayer funds, damaging America's international credibility, and hurting Americans' pocketbooks. They have pushed a costly regulatory agenda, eliminated deterrent-focused immigration policies, and created instability on the global stage.

In conclusion, Biden's executive actions on immigration and other issues have been criticised as willful and unhinged from a commitment to abide by the law. His administration's actions have significant consequences and have been described as a threat to the rule of law and democratic values.

Biden's administration weak leadership and detrimental policy agenda

The Biden-Harris administration has been criticised for its weak leadership and detrimental policy agenda, with some claiming that President Biden has broken the law.

In June 2024, the New York Post reported that the Biden administration was giving work permits to migrants in record numbers, with 3.3 million permits issued since Biden took office. Many of these migrants did not have the legal right to be in America, and the administration's policies have been described as an "end-run" around the nation's immigration laws. The Biden administration has expanded admissions and created new admission pipelines under eight distinct and significant programs, including population transfers from Afghanistan and Ukraine, and "family reunification" programs. These actions have been criticised as a "wildly novel and likely illegal use of the administration's parole authority".

In August 2024, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led a coalition of 16 states in suing the Biden administration over its "Parole in Place" policy, which allows certain illegal aliens to gain permanent residency status while remaining in the United States, in violation of federal law. Paxton argued that the policy "actively worsens the illegal immigration disaster that is hurting Texas and our country".

In addition to concerns over immigration policy, the Biden-Harris administration has been criticised for its handling of the economy, the border crisis, and foreign policy. Chairman James Comer of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability stated that the administration's policies have fuelled crisis after crisis, including record-high inflation, the worst border crisis in American history, and chaos on the global stage. The administration has been accused of pushing an expansive and costly regulatory agenda, eliminating deterrent-focused immigration policies, mismanaging taxpayer funds, and creating instability on the global stage.

The Biden-Harris administration's open border agenda and decision to abandon deterrent-focused immigration policies have been blamed for igniting the worst border crisis in American history. Mark Krikorian, Executive Director for the Center for Immigration Studies, testified that the administration has rejected any action that would deter illegal entrants, marking a significant break from its predecessors. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) stressed that the administration has failed on the international stage and that their lack of leadership has emboldened foreign adversaries.

The administration has also been criticised for its economic policies, with Chairman Comer highlighting that Americans are now facing 20% average inflation and struggling to pay their bills. The administration's regulatory agenda and focus on progressive policy goals have been blamed for delaying important initiatives, such as the broadband connectivity program, and wasting billions of taxpayer dollars.

In summary, the Biden-Harris administration has been accused of weak leadership and implementing detrimental policies that have negatively impacted the country in various areas, including immigration, the economy, border security, and foreign relations. While some have claimed that President Biden has broken the law, the extent of any legal wrongdoing is unclear, and the administration continues to defend its policies and actions.

Biden's administration pushes costly regulatory agenda

In June 2023, the Biden Administration was criticised for its "regulatory blitz" that was jeopardising America's economy. The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing, highlighting how the administration's executive orders and unchecked regulations have hurt small businesses, raised costs for Americans, and jeopardised economic opportunities. The regulatory agenda is expected to cost American taxpayers at least $1.5 trillion over the next decade, with an estimated $10,000 per household cost of regulations imposed by the Biden Administration through the end of 2022.

The Biden Administration's regulatory push has been described as a "radical, costly, and burdensome agenda", with concerns raised about the expansion of Executive Branch power. Critics argue that the administration's actions will result in higher costs for businesses and consumers, reduced choices in the marketplace, and a negative impact on America's small businesses and communities.

One specific example of Biden's regulatory agenda is his approach to student loan forgiveness. Biden has been accused of "scrounging around in the federal code" to find justification for a massive student debt forgiveness program, despite being rebuked by the Supreme Court. This has been characterised as an "inherent abuse" and a "profound trespass against our constitutional order".

In addition to the regulatory concerns, there have also been controversies surrounding Biden's handling of classified documents. In January and February 2023, classified documents from Biden's time in the Senate and as Vice President were discovered in his former office and personal residence. This led to an investigation, with Biden's attorneys cooperating and reporting the findings to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The investigation concluded that while Biden had "willfully retained and disclosed classified materials", there was insufficient evidence to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and no criminal charges were filed.

The Biden Administration's regulatory agenda and handling of classified documents have sparked debates and concerns about the potential impact on the economy, national security, and the rule of law.

Biden's administration mismanages taxpayer funds

The Biden-Harris administration has been accused of mismanaging taxpayer funds in several instances. One notable example is the accusation that the administration used FEMA disaster relief funds to house migrants in the U.S. illegally. However, this claim was fact-checked and deemed false by Reuters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) runs a program to house migrants, but it is funded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), not FEMA disaster relief funds.

Another instance of alleged mismanagement of taxpayer funds involves the broadband connectivity program. Chairman James Comer of the House Oversight Committee criticized the administration for spending billions of taxpayer dollars on broadband connectivity with little to no result. He questioned the role of the administration in the program's failure to deliver the expected outcomes.

Additionally, the Biden-Harris administration has been criticized for its regulatory agenda and the elimination of deterrent-focused immigration policies at the southern border, which some argue have contributed to the current border crisis. The administration's policies have also been blamed for damaging America's international credibility and jeopardizing U.S. energy production.

Furthermore, there are allegations that the administration has funneled taxpayer money to organizations seeking to violate citizens' natural right to gun ownership. According to the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), USAID has directed taxpayer dollars to organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords through a group called NEO Philanthropy. While the full extent of the funding is not yet known, the revelation has sparked concerns about the federal government's role in potentially violating citizens' rights.

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