In what can only be described as the latest episode of "As the Border Turns," President Biden has signed an executive order to temporarily shut down the US-Mexico border whenever the average daily encounters with migrants exceed 2,500. Yes, it appears Biden is now using metrics ordinarily reserved for fast-food drive-thrus to dictate national policy. "Sorry, folks, we're at capacity. Take another lap around the desert until our sign says '1,499 to go,’" seems to be the new mantra.

This grand gesture, which some detractors have labeled a "political stunt," aims to turn the border into a magical gate that flips open and shut based on daily foot traffic. The border will swing open again like a well-oiled saloon door once the number of migrant encounters falls to 1,500 per day. Evidently, the border has become a turnstile at a theme park, minus the mascots and souvenir shops.

In an effort to not appear completely heartless, the executive order includes exceptions for unaccompanied children and victims of trafficking. So, it’s good to know that in the game of "Red light, Green light” at the border, some participants automatically get a pass.

Regardless, this new order is being seen as a significant shift to the right in American immigration policy. Even critics among Democrats are shaking their heads, noting that the policy feels harsher than a well-done steak. It's almost as if Biden peeked over at the Republican playbook and thought, "Ah, why not? Let’s see if this old trick still works."

Border towns like Eagle Pass, Texas, have already felt the weight of the migrant crisis, and while shutting down the border might seem like a quick fix, it’s more like putting a bandaid on a leaky dam. Biden, meanwhile, has taken this opportunity to criticize Republicans in Congress for failing to pass a bipartisan immigration bill. Ah, nothing says "unity" quite like a little bipartisan blame game.

The new policy aims to restore control and order to the immigration process, or at least that’s the latest slogan on a banner somewhere in Washington. Critics, however, argue that "control and order" are just euphemisms for playing the quiet game with people’s lives.

What's more, Biden now faces a mountain of legal challenges over this new policy. It's almost déjà vu, as Trump’s similar attempt at a border shutdown back in 2018 was promptly blocked by the courts. Once more, we find ourselves in the cyclical drama of border politics, without any signs of a dramatic conclusion in sight.

It's worth noting that while Biden’s plan includes humanitarian exceptions, critics from within his own party and immigrant advocates have voiced that this feels like a significant stepping back from the more lenient policies they expected. As one Democratic leader put it, "We were hoping for a policy overhaul, not a flashback sequence."

All considered, the executive order appears to be more of a balancing act on a tightrope over a bottomless pit of political accountability. It’s about controlling the narrative just as much as controlling the border. One thing is clear: whether this policy stems the tide or creates a flood of criticism, the saga of America’s immigration policy continues to be the most suspenseful show in town. So, grab your popcorn or, if you're Biden, maybe just another executive order… there’s always room for one more twist in the plot.