WASHINGTON – President Biden insisted Tuesday that “I’ve done everything I can do” to secure the US-Mexico border – prompting House Speaker Mike Johnson to say that the claim was “simply untrue.”
“I have done everything I can do. Give me power. I’ve been asking since the day I took office,” the 81-year-old president told reporters on the White House lawn as he left for a fundraiser in South Florida.
“Give me the Border Patrol, give me the people, the judges — give me the people who can stop this and make it work properly,” he added.
Johnson (R-La.) responded to X’s attack, “That is not true. He is either lying or he is not informed.”
The speaker added: “These are just some of the powers he has – should he use them: • Presidential Authority to Deny Entry 212(f) • Expedited Removal 235(b)(1) • Discretionary Detention Authority 236( a) • Mandatory Detention 236(c). No more excuses.”
Biden’s claim that Republicans are blocking border security mirrors recent White House messaging as conservatives, including Johnson, express opposition to the details of legislation reportedly being discussed in bipartisan Senate talks — which critics say could actually worsen the crisis by drawing more immigrants to USA.
Johnson (R-La.) responded to Biden’s border comments on X, “That’s not true. He is either lying or he is not informed.” Getty Images
Johnson said Friday that any new restrictions in a potential Senate deal could be ignored by Biden and added that the president should “demonstrate his goodwill by taking immediate action to secure” the border.
Biden, who acknowledged earlier this month that the border is not secure and said that “massive change” is needed, is running for president in 2020 vowing to undo former President Donald Trump’s hardline border policies.
On his first day in office, Biden halted construction of Trump’s US-Mexico border wall and then ended his predecessor’s “Stay in Mexico” policy, which required most asylum seekers to await a decision on their claims of persecution while south of the border.
Biden claimed that “I’ve done everything I can do” to secure the US-Mexico border, which Johnson said meant the president was either “lying or misinformed.” Reuters
Biden’s claim that he asked for more border powers on his first day was a reference to proposed legislation that would pave the way to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the US while streamlining the asylum process for new immigrants. The proposal, criticized by Republicans as a potential magnet for more illegal immigration, would also invest money in border security technology.
Republicans have pressed Biden to roll back Trump-era border policies that have been stricter, including detaining people who cross the border illegally.
The House Homeland Security Committee is expected to approve articles of impeachment Tuesday against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for allegedly failing to enforce the law — including a provision that says asylum seekers “shall be detained” pending the outcome of their cases if they enter the US illegally.
The number of illegal southern border crossings hit an all-time monthly record of more than 302,000 people – the equivalent of the residents of Pittsburgh or Newark – in December, according to federal data released Friday.
The number of illegal southern border crossings hit an all-time monthly record of more than 302,000 people – the equivalent of the population of Pittsburgh or Newark – in December, according to federal data released Friday. James Keivom
Under Biden, the vast majority of people who crossed illegally were allowed into the US to await an asylum decision. They are entitled to work permits because their claims are pending before the backlog review system.
Mayorkas, who has repeatedly insisted at congressional hearings that “the border is secure,” said this month that more than 85% of those arrested for crossing the border illegally have been released into the US – up from 71% in October and 74% in November .
The Biden administration has also established a special “parole” program for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela that allows a combined 30,000 people each month from those countries to enter the US through regular means such as flying and then await the outcome of their cases.
Nearly 2.5 million people — almost as many as live in Chicago — were apprehended after illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in fiscal 2023, which ended Sept. 30, in addition to an estimated 670,000 “tourists” who evaded authorities.
Fiscal 2022 saw a then-record nearly 2.4 million concerns – up from 1.7 million in fiscal 2021.
The border crisis is a liability for Biden facing an expected rematch against Trump.
A Pew Research poll released last month found that only 32% of Americans believe Biden can make “smart decisions on immigration policy.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
