President Joe Biden on Friday shifted blame for the ongoing border crisis and criticized lawmakers for failing to reach a deal, according to a press release.
of ongoing battle The Lone Star State's borders got tougher this week, with the Biden administration demanding that Texas officials return the border area to the federal government. But the president issued a statement after Texas officials continued to refuse to comply with Biden's requests. statement He said it was “long past time to resolve” the border crisis. (Related: Texas Governor Ken Paxton doubles down on border extradition denial to Biden: press release)
Biden said in a press release that he has “directed” his team to negotiate with a “bipartisan group of senators” and that the group will work “around the clock” to reach an agreed-upon solution. He emphasized what he had accomplished. The president continued to press lawmakers, claiming in a release that if the negotiated bill becomes law, it would be “the toughest and fairest set of reforms” to border policy in U.S. history.
“We all know that our border has been destroyed for far too long. It is long past time to fix it. That is why, two months ago, I announced that we must seriously and finally address the border crisis.” “I have directed my team to begin negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators to do that, which they have been doing for several weeks now, working around the clock, on holidays and weekends,” Biden said. said in a release.
“What has been negotiated so far, if passed into law, would be the toughest and fairest reform to secure our borders ever in this country.”
For everyone who wants stronger border controls, this is the way to get it.
My full statement on border security negotiations is below. pic.twitter.com/sm2IXV99Lx
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 27, 2024
Biden also said in the release that the bill would give “new emergency powers” to close the border in the event of a surge. The president also called on Congress to “provide the funding we requested in October to secure our borders,” and emphasized that “securing our borders” will be “a victory for America,” the press release said. Stated. (Related: Democrats say Biden should take control of Texas' National Guard, but here's what they're not saying)
“It would give me, as president, new emergency powers to shut down the border in the event of disruption. And if I were given that power, I would exercise it the same day I signed the bill into law.” Biden said in the release.
“Furthermore, Congress must finally provide the funding I requested in October to secure our border, including an additional 1,300 people to help detect and interdict fentanyl at the Southwest border.” of Border Patrol agents, 375 immigration agents, 1,600 asylum workers, and more than 100 state-of-the-art inspection machines. Securing the border through these negotiations is a victory for the United States,” Biden said. his press release added.
Republican lawmakers have been at odds on ongoing issues at the border, but Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson blocked additional foreign aid spending late last year to meet Republican border demands. While senators continue to say negotiations are nearing completion, some Republicans have already dismissed concerns about the bill's potential.
Several Republican senators told the Daily Caller that the bill's potential framework would make significant changes to immigration law, with some concerned about loopholes in the law for illegal immigrants.Number of illegal immigrants crossing borders reaches record numbers, by December 2023 hitting The encounter alone was 302,034 times. according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
