Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed on Fox News on Wednesday details of his one-on-one conversation with President Joe Biden regarding executive action closing the southern border.
Johnson appeared on “Hannity” to discuss the ongoing border crisis and Congress's search for a solution. Fox host Sean Hannity asked Biden to list officials' biggest concerns about the crisis and whether there was anything “that can be done” to ensure Biden's “wide open border.” I asked the Speaker if that was the case. Johnson said the House of Commons had previously passed HR2, known as the Securing Borders Act, and would continue to “push through” it. (Related: Illegal immigrant arrested on 25-day 'terrorism' charges including rape, armed robbery)
“We never stopped working on it. We topped HR-2 almost a year ago [and] Chuck Schumer leaves it on his desk collecting dust. We will continue to advance every part and every initiative,” Johnson said. “Because, listen, as you know, this catastrophe is having real-world effects right now across the country. Violent crimes, brutal murders – Laken Riley and others. Even in my home state of Louisiana. [with] Rapes by illegal aliens got worse last week as Joe Biden is capturing illegal aliens and releasing them into the country. It has caused an absolutely devastating effect and will continue to do so, Sean, sadly. So we have to push. ”
“The president has the executive authority to resolve the issue immediately,” Johnson continued. “I spoke to him one-on-one and in a group yesterday at the White House. I told him: Mr. President, Mr. Border Patrol, if you issue an executive order leaving returnees in Mexico, Your agents told us that immigration would be reduced by 70% if we gave it to them almost overnight. Because the message would be sent around the world: “Don't waste your life's savings on cartels.” It's from. They won't be able to get you over the line. Stay there. Stay in Mexico, stay in a safe third country. ” He wouldn’t do that, Sean. He told me he didn't have that authority. I said, “That's simply not true.” President Trump did it, so why can't you? “He said, “Mexico doesn't want that.'' Well, you're the President of the United States, so you should act like one. ”
Mr Johnson had previously said MPs also needed to address issues at the southern border, and late last year refused to provide further foreign aid. Months later, the Senate proposed a bipartisan bill, but it was quickly killed by Republicans over concerns about loopholes in the law and its leniency toward illegal immigrants.
Before Republican senators blocked the bill, Johnson and other Republicans warned that Congress would be “dead on arrival” if the bill went to the House. Since the bill failed, lawmakers have yet to propose a solution beyond HR2, which House Republicans approved last year.
