Biden pledges border policy shift amid leak of Senate deal

President Biden said he plans to change policy at the U.S./Mexico border as pressure from Republicans and some Democrats in Congress mounts to stop the illegal immigration flood.

“I’ve been pushing them — my Republican colleagues — since I got in office. I think we have to make a major change in the border,” Mr. Biden said Saturday. “I’m prepared to make significant alterations in the border.”

That’s a new tone. The White House has acknowledged issues with the border, but resisted drastic changes to its approach.

The president’s comments come as details of the Senate’s border deal leaked that migrants crossing the border illegally will be immediately eligible for work permits, with the government letting up to 5,000 illegals cross the border daily before new expulsion powers kick in.

Critics dub it the “Senate Amnesty Deal” and say it would do little to curb the flow of migrants.

They contend the agreement would do  nothing to rework the Biden administration’s parole for migrants — a sticking point for conservatives who want changes at the border before acquiescing to Mr. Biden’s $110 billion emergency funding request.

That funding would dole out money to Ukraine in its war against Russia and to Israel in its fight versus Hamas. The appeal has been in limbo while Senate negotiators hash out border security into the framework.

Republican lawmakers were quick to point the finger at Mr. Biden, saying the wide open border is his fault.

“Ridiculous. There IS a crisis at the border, and it’s of Joe Biden’s making,” said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Minnesota Republican, on X. “[House Republicans] passed the strongest border security legislation in decades nearly a year ago. He has ignored it.”

A growing contingent of conservatives in the House are vowing to not fund the government until major changes are made in border policy. They’re pushing for the inclusion of the House GOP’s Secure the Border Act, or its functional equivalent.