President Biden on Friday urged lawmakers to move forward with a controversial proposal to combat record levels of illegal border crossings under his administration, calling it “the toughest, fairest set of reforms to secure the border we have ever had in our country.” ”.
The agreement that links $61.4 billion in aid to Ukraine with increased border security measures appears dead when it reaches the Senate – and is strongly opposed by several Republicans in Congress – despite months of negotiations between the White House and a bipartisan group of senators.
“For too long, we all know the border has been broken,” Biden, 81, acknowledged in a statement. “It’s time to fix it.”
“Let’s be clear. What has been negotiated would be – if it becomes law – the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border that we have ever had in our country,” argued the president.
The text of the bill negotiated between the White House and a bipartisan group of senators has not yet been made public. AP
The text of the already languishing bill has not yet been revealed, but the president provided details of what was agreed in his letter of request.
“It would give me, as president, new emergency authority to close the border when it becomes overwhelmed. And if I were given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill,” Biden said.
“In addition, Congress needs to finally provide the funds I requested in October to secure the border. This includes 1,300 additional border patrol agents, 375 immigration judges, 1,600 asylum officers and more than 100 state-of-the-art inspection machines to help detect and stop fentanyl at our southwest border.”
Border agents encountered more than 2.4 million migrants in the last fiscal year. REUTERS
The president described the pending legislation as “a victory for America.”
“For all those demanding stricter border control, this is the way to do it,” he argued. “If you’re serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill and I’ll sign it.”
Some Senate Republicans immediately criticized Biden’s statement.
“If this deal has already been ‘negotiated,’ why can’t senators see it?” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote in X. “’Democracy dies in darkness.’”
“Or Biden could stop pretending this is anyone’s fault other than his own and ENFORCE THE LAW,” tweeted Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). “He opened the border. He can close it.”
Some of the other provisions of the interim bill, obtained by The Post from a source on Thursday, include continuing to allow immigrants flying into the country to receive humanitarian parole at designated airports, while restricting the practice at the border and United States ports of entry; provide legal assistance to unaccompanied migrant children under 13 years of age and migrants considered mentally incompetent; and increase the number of immigrant visas to 50,000 a year.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn