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.
Closing the border is part of the verbiage of the proposed immigration bill. For instance, a closing would take effect if there are 8,500 migrant encounters in a single day.
We can close official crossings as much as we like, but it will do little to stop people immigrating. I’m guessing that this is targeted at southern crossings, too, as I doubt the govt is seriously considering turning people away in airports or up north.
I’ve read what insiders say is in the compromise, but can’t say for sure. But, apparently after a certain amount of daily encounters, the border patrol shuts down the border and removes immigrants and deports them. No, I don’t think the Canadian border or airline traffic is accounted for, which is kind of stupid.
Or legal crossings, which remain the easiest way to enter and stay. Enter the US for a vacation, simply… fail to go home. That neatly avoids the whole sneaking in issue entirely.
I can’t say I’m surprised at this, given that Biden has never been particularly pro-immigration beyond lip service. I am, however, disappointed.