President Biden is debating whether to invoke a sweeping presidential authority. Mr. Biden is weighing citing a law dating back to 1952 to severely restrict access to the U.S. asylum system. That law, known as 212(f), allows the president to “suspend the entry” of foreigners when it is determined their arrival is not in the best interest of the country. The Trump administration used the law several times, including to ban immigration and travel from certain countries, most of them predominantly Muslim, and to bar migrants from asylum if they entered the country unlawfully. If approved, Mr. Biden’s executive action could be announced within the next two weeks. Any significant restriction on asylum would face formidable legal and operational hurdles. Still, issuing an executive order designed to curb illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border could be seen as an important political message from Mr. Biden ahead of the 2024 election.