President Biden has stated that he does not plan to take executive action to address the record numbers of migrants coming into the United States through the southern border. This follows previous indications that he might consider taking such action following failed efforts to find a legislative fix.
Biden made these remarks on Air Force One while traveling to New Hampshire on Monday in response to a question about the possibility of him unilaterally adding safeguards to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The President’s statement has raised questions about whether he will follow in the footsteps of former President Donald Trump, who took controversial executive actions relating to immigration during his time in office. However, Biden seemed to suggest that he is counting on Congress to pass a legislative fix to the ongoing border crisis rather than taking executive action. He stated that he is “counting on the border action happening by itself” and that he is “helping” Congress in their efforts to reach a bipartisan agreement.
Previously, there had been reports that the Biden administration was considering executive action to restrict migrants’ ability to claim asylum at the border. An administration source had told Fox News that this was one of “several” plans being considered. However, in his latest statement, Biden did not mention any specific plans for executive action and instead emphasized the importance of Congress finding a solution.
When asked about the lack of progress on a bipartisan border bill, Biden blamed Republicans for not being willing to work with Democrats. He accused the GOP of prioritizing partisan politics over national security. This response is consistent with the White House’s previous statements that no executive action can replace the policy reforms and resources that Congress can provide.
Upon taking office, Biden revoked dozens of executive orders issued by former President Trump to secure the southern border. These moves were applauded by immigration activists and Democrats, who had criticized Trump’s tough immigration policies. However, in recent months, the Biden administration has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum for handling the border crisis.
According to a recent analysis by Fox News, nearly 7.3 million migrants have crossed the US-Mexico border illegally since President Biden took office. This number is greater than the entire population of 36 individual states, highlighting the scale of the ongoing crisis. This data has added fuel to the ongoing debate about the best approach to address the influx of migrants at the southern border.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comments on Biden’s latest statement about not taking executive action. However, it is clear that the Biden administration is facing a complex and challenging situation at the southern border, and their decisions will continue to impact the lives of millions of people.
The President’s stance on executive action may have provided some relief to those who were concerned about the potential repercussions of such actions. However, it also raises questions about the administration’s ability to find a bipartisan solution in Congress.
As the situation at the border continues to evolve, it remains to be seen what the Biden administration’s next steps will be and whether its reliance on Congress to find a solution will prove successful.
