Border Security Intensifies, President Joe Biden has made a commitment to promptly close the U.S.-Mexico border if the proposal currently under negotiation in the Senate gains approval from Congress.
He emphasized the need for lawmakers to pass a bipartisan bill, particularly if they are genuinely concerned about the ongoing border crisis. In a statement released on Friday night, Biden expressed confidence that the Senate negotiations would result in “the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we’ve ever had in our country.”
He mentioned that the proposal would grant new presidential authority to “shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed.”
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“And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law,” Biden asserted.
Biden’s statement aimed to salvage a bipartisan border deal teetering on the edge of collapse. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., privately acknowledged to other Republican senators this week that opposition from former President Donald Trump − the 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner − puts the party in a dilemma.
The breakdown of a bipartisan border deal would deprive Biden of an opportunity to claim a victory in addressing the surging migration at the southern border − a topic Republicans have consistently criticized Biden over throughout his presidency.
Trump restated his opposition to a border deal in a Saturday morning post on his social media platform Truth Social.
“A BAD BORDER DEAL IS FAR WORSE THAN NO BORDER DEAL!” emphasized Trump.
Last week, President Biden offered a candid evaluation, acknowledging the insecurity of the border amid surging migration records. He urged “significant policy changes” in the asylum system and executive authorities to regain control.
Biden aims to secure a $110 billion supplemental spending package in Congress, inclusive of border measures, to garner Republican support for additional funding to aid Ukraine against Russia.
Outlined in the Senate discussions, the proposed package grants the Department of Homeland Security authority to close the border if average daily migrant crossings surpass 4,000 over a one-week period, as reported by CNN and other media outlets.
Additionally, if daily migrant crossings exceed 5,000, the Department of Homeland Security would be mandated to shut down the border to those crossing illegally.
Expressing his views on the negotiations, Biden emphasized the significance of securing the border in his statement on Friday, stating, “Securing the border through these negotiations is a win for America.” He urged those advocating for stricter border control to support a bipartisan bill, asserting, “If you’re serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill and I will sign it.”
However, even if an agreement materializes in the Senate, potential resistance from Republicans in the House remains a hurdle.
Speaker Mike Johnson, who maintains regular communication with Trump regarding border talks, cautioned in a letter on Friday that a bipartisan border and immigration deal from the Senate is likely to be met with opposition in the House, suggesting it could be “dead on arrival.”