- The Washington Times - Thursday, February 29, 2024

President Biden tried to flip the script on immigration Thursday, blaming Republicans for denying him the funding and policy changes he says are necessary to fix the chaos at the border.

Speaking in Brownsville, Texas, the president pointed a sharp finger at the GOP claiming their inaction has fueled the crisis. He blamed former President Trump and Republicans for torpedoing a bipartisan Senate package of immigration laws that attached to billions of dollars of aid for Ukraine and Israel.

“This bill in the United States Senate was on its way to be passed and then it was derailed by rank-and-file partisan politics,” Mr. Biden said.

He also urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to put the bill to a vote.

Ultimately, the Ukraine package cleared the Senate and was sent to the House without the border security measures. Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, said the Senate border bill did not go far enough to deal with the border crisis. The House previously passed a sweeping get-tough border bill that the Democrat-run Senate refused to vote on.

Mr. Biden boasted that the Senate package would have added 100 immigration judges, 1,500 Customs and Border Protection personnel, and 4,300 asylum officers, as well as more detentions. It would have also funded the installation of 100 more machines to detect fentanyl at ports of entry.


PHOTOS: Biden and Trump both arrive at U.S.-Mexico border


Mr. Biden also touted the Senate bill giving him authority to shut down the border if the number of crossings reached a 5,000-per-day threshold, though critics insist Mr. Biden already has the authority to shut the border and deport illegal immigrants.

“It’s time to step up, provide [Customs and Border Patrol] with significantly more personnel and capabilities,” Mr. Biden said.

He also said they “desperately need more resources,” though Mr. Biden’s budgets decreased funding requests for CBP.

The president called on Mr. Trump, his likely GOP rival in the presidential race, to endorse the Senate aid packaging, suggesting the two of them could join forces and press lawmakers from both parties to overhaul immigration laws.

“We can do it together,” he said. “You know and I know it’s the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country’s ever seen. So instead of playing politics for the issue, why don’t we just get together and get it done?”

Ahead of his remarks, Mr. Biden spoke with Border Patrol agents, pledging he would get them more resources “come hell or high water.” 

“I promise you, we’re going to fight like the devil to get you this bipartisan proposal,” he said. 

The visit is Mr. Biden’s second trip to the border since he took office in 2021. He first visited the region in 2023 when he traveled to El Paso, Texas. This time, he visited a Border Patrol facility along the Rio Grande River in Brownsville.

Mr. Biden spoke about the urgent need to address head-on the illegal immigration crisis, which has become one of his most serious political liabilities. On his watch, a record number of migrants have entered the U.S. across the southern border.

The president made the case that he doesn’t have the authority to address the issue unless Congress acts.

Mr.  Trump, who made his own trip to the border Thursday, has blamed Mr. Biden’s lax border policies for the influx of migrants. But Mr. Biden blamed other factors including hurricanes in Central America.

Polls show that a majority of Americans disapprove of Mr. Biden’s handling of immigration and the border.

A Gallup Poll released this week found that the number of people who say immigration is the most important issue facing America rose 28%, its highest level in five years and more than double the 12% who said the economy was the most important.

Similarly, a Monmouth University poll reported that 53% of respondents support building a wall along the southern border, the first time a majority of Americans have backed the idea since Mr. Trump made it a cornerstone of this get-tough approach to illegal immigration.

• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.

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