The issue presents a difficult challenge for a party trying to hold on to congressional seats. Some Democrats want to defend the administration's approach, while others fear that voters frustrated by immigration enforcement and border security could punish the party at the ballot box.

With immigration remaining a powerful election issue, Biden's legacy could become an unexpected liability for candidates who would rather focus on the current administration's record and their plans for the future.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ARE DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM BIDEN

The political shift is becoming increasingly visible in competitive races. Democratic candidates who once defended the party's broader immigration approach are now openly acknowledging that Biden's administration failed to address border security effectively.

In Texas, Senate candidate James Talarico has publicly criticized Biden's record and presented himself as a Democrat who supports stronger border enforcement. In Kansas, Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton has also called the immigration situation under Biden a disaster. Candidates in Pennsylvania and South Carolina have delivered similar messages as they attempt to appeal to voters concerned about immigration.

Their strategy reflects a calculation: defending every decision made by a former Democratic president could make it harder to win over independents and voters who have lost confidence in the party.

But distancing themselves from Biden carries its own risks. Some Democratic voters may see the criticism as an admission that the party's previous approach was misguided, while others may believe the candidates are simply adjusting their message to suit the election.

The challenge is to acknowledge past failures without alienating the voters who remain committed to the party's approach to immigration reform.

HOW THE BORDER BECAME A POLITICAL LIABILITY

Immigration became one of the most contentious issues of Biden's presidency as large numbers of migrants arrived at the U.S.–Mexico border. Republicans repeatedly accused his administration of failing to enforce immigration law effectively, making border security a central theme in the 2024 election.

The issue was particularly damaging in communities that faced pressure on local services, housing and public resources. It also became a symbol in the wider debate over whether the federal government could manage immigration while maintaining a functioning legal asylum system.

Biden's administration eventually adopted tighter border restrictions, including a major executive action in June 2024 intended to limit access to asylum when crossings reached specified levels. The move itself divided Democrats, with some supporting stronger enforcement and others arguing that the restrictions went too far.

That history helps explain why the party's current position is complicated. Democrats are not debating immigration from a single unified perspective; they are still wrestling with the balance between border enforcement, legal pathways to citizenship, asylum protections and humanitarian obligations.

TRUMP'S BORDER POLICIES ARE NOW CREATING THEIR OWN BACKLASH

Although Biden's record remains a vulnerability for Democrats, the political debate has shifted under Trump. Border encounters have dropped sharply, but the administration's deportation campaign and enforcement tactics have generated new criticism over civil liberties, family separation and the treatment of immigrants.

Recent reporting indicates that some voters who wanted stronger border security are uncomfortable with the way the crackdown is being carried out. Democrats are trying to use that distinction to argue that securing the border does not require every enforcement measure adopted by the administration.

This creates an opening for Democratic candidates to support stricter border controls while opposing what they consider excessive or unlawful enforcement. It also creates a challenge: voters may agree that some tactics have gone too far without necessarily trusting Democrats to manage immigration effectively.

Republicans, meanwhile, continue to argue that their policies delivered stronger border control after years of disorder. The debate is therefore moving beyond whether the border should be secure toward what methods are acceptable and how the government should balance enforcement with legal protections.

THE MIDTERMS COULD FORCE A RECKONING INSIDE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The dispute over Biden's border record reflects a wider debate about the future of the Democratic Party. Moderates in competitive districts are pressing for tougher messages on immigration and public safety, while other Democrats are emphasizing immigrant protections and opposition to Trump's enforcement campaign.

Those differences could shape the party's policy platform well beyond this election. Candidates who win by emphasizing border security may argue that Democrats need a more enforcement-focused approach. Others may insist that the party can address border management without abandoning its commitments to asylum and immigration reform.

The party must also decide how much responsibility to assign to Biden personally. Blaming the former president may help individual candidates distance themselves from an unpopular record, but repeated public criticism could deepen divisions and weaken the party's attempt to present a coherent alternative to Republicans.

For now, the immediate priority is electoral survival. Democrats need to persuade voters that they recognize the problems associated with the previous administration while offering a credible plan for the future.

A NEW POLITICAL TEST FOR BOTH PARTIES

The border debate is no longer an uncomplicated advantage for either party. Democrats are attempting to overcome the legacy of Biden's immigration record, while Republicans are defending their enforcement policies amid growing scrutiny of deportations and federal agents' conduct.

For voters, the decision may come down to which party appears more capable of maintaining border security, enforcing immigration law and protecting legal rights without creating new problems.

The consequences could be significant in closely contested Senate and House races. A shift of only a few seats could change congressional control, giving one party greater power over legislation, oversight and the direction of national policy.

Biden's legacy is therefore resurfacing at a politically sensitive moment—not simply as a debate about the past, but as a test of whether Democrats can convince voters that they have learned from their mistakes.

As Election Day approaches, Democrats are confronting an uncomfortable reality: they may need to criticize their own former president to persuade voters to trust them again on one of America's most divisive issues.