Mike Johnson insists Biden has power to address border crisis
House Speaker Blames President Biden for Border Crisis
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) placed blame for the border crisis on President Joe Biden, insisting the president should act on solving the crisis as Senate negotiators are slated to release the text of their proposed border security bill on Sunday.
Johnson put the ball in Biden’s court to act on the border, arguing he has the authority to enact measures the House GOP has pursued through its H.R. 2 bill, which has not been considered by the Senate while speaking on NBC News’s Meet the Press on Sunday.
“I have been saying what the requirements are to fix the problem. I don’t care if they call the legislation HR 2 or not. What we’re saying is you have to stem the flow. The President has executive authority right now, as Congress does this negotiation and the debate and discussion,” Johnson said.
“The President could stop at section 212 F of the Immigration and Nationality Act [which] the Supreme Court has already acknowledged gives the President broad executive authority. He could close the border literally overnight,” he added.
When pressed on whether it is their obligation to voters to pass legislation, noting that executive action on the border under the Trump administration faced lengthy court battles, Johnson reiterated that the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2 in 2023.
“We did that nine months ago. And since we passed our measure in the House to solve this problem – and the reason we had to do it is because we saw that President Biden was not fulfilling his obligation under the law. That’s why this is such a failure– failure of leadership,” Johnson said.
“In the nine months since that bill has sat on Chuck Schumer‘s desk collecting dust, 1.8 million illegals have been allowed into this country. Welcomed into the country, sent around the nation into every community. Communities near everyone listening and watching this morning. And that is a catastrophe,” he added.
When pressed again on working on legislative action, Johnson said the GOP-led House is “willing to work with the Senate” but also noted that “they have to be serious about it.”
Biden has promised to close the border if the proposed Senate bill — which is expected to be released on Sunday — passes through Congress. Republicans have countered Biden’s argument by claiming the president already has authority to act.
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What is the Title 8 border policy?
Under Title 8, migrants who are deported are banned from entering the U.S. for at least five years. And if they reenter the U.S. unlawfully, they could face charges and jail time. ,” Johnson continued. “He could say, ‘No more asylum claims at the border. You have to go to a designated port of entry.’ That would solve a big part of the problem right now. He could also use Title 42 of the Public Health Service Act to say, ‘Look, in the interest of public health, we can turn people away.’”
Johnson’s comments come as Senate negotiators are set to release the text of their proposed border security bill. The bill aims to address the surge of migrants at the southern border and includes provisions for increased border patrol agents, enhanced border infrastructure, and streamlined asylum processing. However, Johnson argued that without the executive action from President Biden, any legislative solution would be rendered ineffective.
Critics of the Biden administration have accused the president of creating a border crisis with his more lenient approach to immigration policies. They argue that Biden’s rollback of Trump-era policies, such as the Migrant Protection Protocols and the construction of the border wall, have incentivized migrants to make the dangerous journey to the US-Mexico border.
The number of encounters at the border has indeed seen a sharp increase since Biden took office. In March, Customs and Border Protection reported over 172,000 encounters, the highest monthly total in over 20 years. This surge in border crossings has put a strain on border patrol resources and sparked concern over the safety and well-being of migrants, especially children.
President Biden has acknowledged the challenges at the border but has placed blame on the Trump administration for dismantling the asylum system and failing to address the root causes of migration from Central American countries. The Biden administration has announced plans to address the situation by increasing funding for humanitarian aid in the region, establishing processing centers in Mexico for asylum seekers, and expediting the asylum process.
While both sides of the political aisle continue to debate the best course of action for addressing the border crisis, the responsibility ultimately falls on President Biden to take decisive action. As the leader of the country, he has the power and authority to implement measures that can stem the flow of illegal immigration and protect both American citizens and migrants.
The release of the proposed border security bill is an important step in the legislative process, but it cannot be the sole solution. President Biden must work with Congress to find a comprehensive, bipartisan approach that addresses the underlying causes of migration, strengthens border security, and provides a fair and efficient system for processing asylum claims. The current crisis at the border requires immediate action, and it is up to President Biden to lead the way.
In conclusion, House Speaker Mike Johnson is correct in placing blame on President Biden for the border crisis. While legislative efforts can help address the issue, it is the executive action from the president that will ultimately make a significant impact. President Biden must take responsibility and utilize his executive authority to implement measures that can effectively solve the crisis and protect the interests of both the American people and those seeking asylum.
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