The White House statement comes after a week of frantic negotiations in the Senate.

The White House statement comes after a week of frantic negotiations in the Senate.

President Joe Biden on Friday urged Congress to pass a bipartisan bill to address the immigration crisis at the nation’s southern border, saying he would shut down the border the day the bill became law.

“What’s been negotiated would — if passed into law — be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we’ve ever had in our country,” Biden said in a statement. “It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed. And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law.”

Biden’s Friday evening statement resembles a ramping up in rhetoric for the administration, placing the president philosophically in the camp arguing that the border may hit a point where closure is needed. The White House’s decision to have Biden weigh in also speaks to the delicate nature of the dealmaking, and the urgency facing his administration to take action on the border — particularly during an election year, when Republicans have used the issue to rally their base.

The president is also daring Republicans to reject the deal as it faces a make-or-break moment amid GOP fissures.

  • Methylchloroisothiazolinone@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    8 months ago

    How long has the border been in “crisis” and when did this “crisis” start? Serious question. Was it a crisis when trump was in office? I know obama did more deportations than any president previous or since. I know illegal immigration has been a problem in the u.s. the entire 50+ years of my life in america. I know illegal immigration happens globally. I know its suddenly “handled” and “not a significant problem” when republicans are president according to media and “its out of control” and " the borders are wide open" the second a democrat takes office. I also know the statistics are actually the opposite and immigration is better handled by democrats. I want to know the day it became a “crisis”.

    Edit; As of this minute democrats are attempting to pass the most comprehensive, draconian immigration bill in history with biden promising a complete lockdown of all immigration the day it hits his desk. Promising to shut down ALL immigration full stop. Republicans are scuttling the bill outright saying they dont wanna give biden a win by stopping illegal immigration. Does it give you pause that the same people screaming CRISIS!!! are intentionally creating the CRISIS!!! and stopping the solution at this very moment?