Joe Biden has been hit by a revolt from within his own party, as 14 Democrats have joined the Republicans to rebuke the President over his border policy.
Lawmakers announced a resolution that places blame for the migrant crisis on Biden’s “open-border policies” for conditions at the US-Mexico border.
The resolution – which was signed by over a dozen Democrats – urged the President to cease his administration’s current migrant policies.
It passed 225-187, however, it is seen as a largely symbolic move as it does not change policy.
Biden hit by revolt as Democrats join Republicans to attack President over migrant crisis
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Out of the 14 democrats who voted for the legislation, most are moderates and represent border districts.
Congressman Nathaniel Moran, who introduced the resolution, slammed the President whose policies showed “the world that the southern border is open”.
He said in a statement: “President Biden’s open border policies have caused a national public safety crisis, undermined the rule of law, and brought into question the very sovereignty of the United States.”
“By removing effective Trump-era policies like ‘Remain in Mexico’ and replacing them with new ‘Catch and Release’ policies that allow migrants free roam within the United States once here; by broadening the pathway to grant asylum to almost anyone who applies; and by redirecting the efforts of Border Patrol away from law enforcement in favour of processing immigration paperwork, the Biden Administration has sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the world that the southern border is open.”
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The resolution – which was signed by over a dozen Democrats – urged the President to cease his administration’s current migrant policies.
PAThe US migrant crisis has become a key battleground ahead of the 2024 presidential election, with new figures suggesting illegal border crossings have jumped 277 per cent since the start of the Biden administration.
In the 2023 fiscal year, the US Border Patrol recorded 2,063,692 encounters with undocumented immigrants.
The number fell from the record high reached in 2022.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump announced that he would deport millions should he become elected as President again.
Speaking to Iowa voters shortly after he won the caucuses in a landslide on Monday, he said: “We’re going to have a deportation level that we haven’t seen in this country for a long time.”
Iowa caucuses said in exit polls that immigration was their number one issue, implying that the issue will be a pivotal one in the 2024 election.
Johnson led a delegation of 64 Republicans to the southern border at the beginning on the year
Reuters
Yesterday, Biden met with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss a huge $110 billion supplemental aid bill that includes money for Ukraine, Israel, and humanitarian causes like aid to Gaza.
The White House insisted the meeting would centre on Ukraine, rather than the border, though Johnson earlier said he would remain laser-fixated on “what we’ve told the American people: border, border, border.”
On January 3, Johnson led a delegation of 64 Republicans to the southern border, who were calling for tougher border restrictions.
Speaking at a news conference about Biden’s national security proposal, which requests for $14billion in protecting the border, Johnson said: “If President Biden wants a supplemental spending bill focused on national security, it better begin by defending America's national security.”
His comments prompted a “here here” and “that's right” from other members in attendance.