Biden affirms commitment to “Toughest and Fairest” border deal amid GOP opposition
President Joe Biden defends bipartisan negotiations for a comprehensive border deal, stating it would be the “toughest and fairest” reform to secure the U.S.-Mexico border
President Joe Biden declared on Friday that the ongoing bipartisan negotiations for a comprehensive border deal represent the “toughest and fairest” reforms to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. The President pledged to “shut down the border” on the day of signing the bill, despite growing resistance from Republicans.
Bipartisan talks have reached a critical point, with some Republicans linking a deal on border security to further Ukraine aid, complicating the negotiations. House Speaker Mike Johnson conveyed skepticism earlier in the day, stating that the current form of the deal is “dead on arrival,” reflecting broader Republican sentiments.
President Biden, seeking re-election in the November 5 elections, grapples with record numbers of migrants crossing the border illegally during his presidency. Republicans argue for a return to the restrictive policies of former President Donald Trump.
“If passed into law, [the negotiated reforms] would be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we’ve ever had in our country,” Biden stated. He emphasized the emergency authority the bill would provide him to close the border when overwhelmed, committing to use it immediately upon signing.
The White House has reportedly agreed to new limits on asylum, including an expulsion power that would rapidly return migrants to Mexico if daily encounters exceed 4,000. Mandatory expulsion would be triggered at 5,000 encounters per day, mirroring the COVID-era Title 42 policy under Trump, which ended in May 2023.
During expulsion periods, migrants could still claim asylum at legal border crossings, with a requirement for the U.S. to allow at least 1,400 migrants daily to approach legal crossings for asylum claims.
The proposed bill aims to expedite asylum claims within six months without detaining migrants, addressing concerns over the current lengthy process. Former President Trump recently cautioned against any deal that falls short of Republicans’ expectations for securing border crossings.
Biden urged Congress to provide the funding requested in October for border security, including additional border patrol agents, immigration judges, asylum officers, and advanced inspection machines to combat the influx of fentanyl at the southwest border.
Source: Reuters
