EL PASO, Texas — Julio Cesar, 55, nearly drowned while crossing a river in the Daríen Gap jungle in 2022 after fleeing Venezuela because of political persecution and a dire economic situation.
Why it matters: Julio Cesar's story is typical of the desperate migrants who risk their lives to try to attain asylum in the U.S., the vast majority fleeing violence, persecution, poverty, a lack of access to medical care and more.
The origins of people seeking entry into the U.S. at the southern border have shifted dramatically during the past decade — from a majority of Mexican adults to a diverse mix of children, families and adults from all over the world.
Why it matters: The rapidly changing dynamics — coupled with outdated immigration laws and infrastructure — is a recipe for disaster. It's why Presidents Obama, Trump and now Biden all faced never-before-seen border crises.
President Biden's struggles with the chaos at the border are partly of his own doing. But no president in recent history — including Donald Trump — has faced an immigration crisis of the scale that Biden has.
Why it matters: Biden was elected after promising to end harsh limits that Trump imposed on immigration. Almost immediately, the president was trapped by a humanitarian and political crisis.
Why it matters: There's growing frustration in the White House with Netanyahu and the Israeli government's rejection of several U.S. requests. Biden earlier this week called the Israeli military operation in Gaza "over the top."
Several allies of President Biden defended his mental agility over the weekend after a special counsel report described him as an "elderly man with a poor memory."
Why it matters: The report from special counsel Robert Hur has fueled fire among voters who are concerned about his age and mental state as the 81-year-old would be 86 at the end of a potential second term.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday called on Congress to "fix" the crisis at the southern border.
Why it matters: An impeachment vote for Mayorkas failed last week in what marked a stunning loss for House Republican leadership, though he faces a second vote Tuesday.
The Texas GOP's executive committee voted to censure House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) on Saturday for his part in the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton and appointing Democrats to chair House committees, among other issues.
The big picture: The censure measure is another instance of the deep infighting that has marked the Texas GOP in the past year, with an ultra-conservative faction often battling with other party members.
World leaders who thought they'd seen the back of former President Trump are now bracing for the uncomfortable prospect of a second Trump presidency.
Why it matters: U.S. allies had never seen a president like Trump, who threatened to rip up treaties and often made bilateral disagreements personal. While long-serving leaders may have known Trump's return was possible, it's now something they have to actively prepare for.
Former President Trump called President Biden's handling of classified documents investigated by special counsel Robert Hur "brazen theft" Saturday at a "Get Out the Vote" rally in South Carolina.
Why it matters: Trump's remarks follow the end of a yearlong investigation, which did not end in charges against Biden but found that his actions presented "serious risks to national security."
Day 2 of the White House's damage-control plan defending President Biden's fitness for office called for a coordinated attack on special counsel Robert Hur.
Why it matters: Biden's team scrambled to counter Hur's report that called the president an "elderly man with a poor memory" — and aides rushed to defend Biden's performance at a late-night press conference that left even some Democrats thinking Hur had a point.
President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated their support for Ukraine during a bilateral meeting at the White House on Friday.
The big picture: Biden used the meeting to pressure GOP lawmakers, calling on Congress to pass a national security spending package with aid to Ukraine, saying a failure to do so would be "close to criminal neglect."
