OPINION:
To free the face or not? That is the question summing up whether the United States has progressed far enough toward coronavirus recovery to return to its freewheeling ways or to stay bottled up in virus containment mode. President Biden’s policies have it both ways. As he hectors Americans to remain masked, he needs to explain why allowing coronavirus-positive illegal immigrants to spread the virus willy-nilly is in the interest of the United States.
With COVID-19 infection and death rates in steep decline across the country, governors in Texas and Mississippi last week announced the loosening of coronavirus mandates, including requirements on the wearing of protective face masks. Mr. Biden bluntly characterized their decisions as “Neanderthal thinking.” One wonders whether the president would similarly insult the 14 other states that have made mask use a matter of personal choice.
At the same time, headlines blared that at least 108 among the crowds of illegal immigrants arriving at the southern border had tested positive for the virus. More disturbing, they were bound for points north, some as far as New Jersey.
Additional reportage appearing this week found that among a contingent of illegals processed and bused to Harlingen, a small Texas city near the border, 25% tested positive for the virus. “Even though they test positive, they’re going to leave the next day,” a local food bank director said. “They’re going to get on the bus or the airplane, and they’re gone.”
In response, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has begged for volunteers to handle the surge that he calls “overwhelming” but not a “crisis.”
Mr. Biden has opened access to the U.S. heartland by halting construction on the nation’s gap-filled border wall. A road system has already been built on the U.S. side to facilitate border patrolling, allowing smugglers to whisk their human cargo to their destinations.
While the president allows infected immigrants to cross the border and travel freely throughout the nation, he characterizes states finally easing mask diktats as “Neanderthal.” No, really.
As for the face mask itself, it does not appear to be a pandemic panacea after all. A study published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a decline in infection rate of 1.8% and death rate of 1.9% during the first 100 days of state-issued mask mandates in 2020. Mask-wearing says, “I care,” and for that, it is a valuable symbol of social concern. As a means of containing the virus, its effectiveness is marginal.
Americans who have dutifully worn their masks and made other sacrifices to keep their communities healthy deserve better than a presidential put-down. They also deserve an explanation as to why Mr. Biden has abandoned similar precautions for uninvited entrants. If he thinks the likelihood they will stay and vote Democratic outweighs the danger of disease they bring, that’s not “Neanderthal,” but inhumane.
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