(Daily Signal)—President Joe Biden tells a lot of tall tales about the border crisis, but his claim that he needs the reckless bipartisan immigration bill being negotiated in the Senate to give him the authority to “shut down the border” and he “would use it the day” he signs the bill into law to end the crisis is one of his tallest tales yet.
In truth, this deal is a political ploy that would support his open-border policy and fund his unlimited illegal immigration plan.
Why is Biden’s claim a tall tale? Because federal immigration law already gives Biden the ability to close the border—and he, his advisers, and his political allies know it.
And anyone who believes that, if this bill passes, Biden will close the border is a modern-day Charlie Brown who actually believed time and again that Lucy wouldn’t snatch the football away when he tried to kick it.
The president’s already existing authority to shut down the border was specifically upheld in 2018 by the U.S. Supreme Court in Trump v. Hawaii over the so-called travel ban issued by then-President Donald Trump.
As Biden’s political allies will no doubt remember, since they led the charge against it, Trump “shut down the border” to aliens from certain terrorist and other nations until the Department of Homeland Security could determine whether it was able to accurately verify and investigate the backgrounds of aliens from those countries.
Trump acted under 8 U.S.C. § 1182, which states that when “the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens … .”
Trump also acted pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1185, which provides that the president can set the “rules, regulations, and orders” for entry of aliens into the U.S. “subject to such limitations and exceptions as the President may prescribe.”
The Supreme Court upheld the travel ban since these existing immigration statutes give “deference to the President” to decide when the entry of aliens should be restricted, and provide him with “‘ample power’ to impose entry restrictions in addition to those” already outlined in federal immigration law.
Moreover, the Supreme Court refused to second-guess Trump’s national-security rationale for issuing the travel ban because such national security determinations made by the commander in chief are entitled to great deference, since courts are not in a position to make such determinations.
In addition to this broad, virtually unlimited authority, the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, acting Commissioner Troy Miller, is authorized by 19 U.S.C. § 1318 (b)(2) to “close temporarily” any port of entry into the U.S. “when necessary to respond to a specific threat to human life or national interests.”
The open southern border of the U.S. is clearly a national security problem of the highest order and is obviously a threat to our “national interests.” Millions of illegal aliens are overwhelming communities across the country, and human traffickers, drug smugglers, criminals, and terrorists are freely entering with little to no obstacles in their way.
A coalition of former FBI officials recently issued a warning to Congress about the “imminent danger” we face from this flood of aliens, which those officials say is “one of the most pernicious ever to menace the United States.”
As they point out, “military-aged men from across the globe, many from countries or regions not friendly to the United States, are landing in waves on our soil by the thousands—not by splashing ashore from a ship or parachuting from a plane, but rather by foot across a border that has been accurately advertised around the world as largely unprotected with ready access granted.”
Biden doesn’t need this Senate bill to fix this problem.
What he needs to do is to exercise the will power to actually shut down the border; accept the help of states and cooperate in their efforts, like those of Texas, to install barbed wire fencing and eventually a wall everywhere it is needed; stop his “catch and release” policy; quit unlawfully granting mass parole and work permits to illegal aliens; reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum-seekers; and take the many other actions to enforce federal immigration law that have proven effective in the past.
In other words, quit sitting on the sideline telling tall tales and get into the arena, and do the right thing. The country is waiting, but its patience has run out.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.