Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had some choice words for President Joe Biden when he laid the blame for the border crisis squarely at the president’s feet. Johnson, in his appearance on NBC News’s Meet the Press, called on Biden to take decisive action to solve the crisis, arguing that the president has the authority to address the issue without waiting for Congress to pass new legislation.
Johnson’s frustration was palpable as he pointed out that the House GOP had already put forth their own border security bill, H.R. 2, which has been collecting dust on Chuck Schumer’s desk for nine months. In the meantime, Johnson lamented, a staggering 1.8 million illegal immigrants have made their way into the country, spreading out across communities nationwide.
Mike Johnson adamant Biden has authority to act on border crisis https://t.co/AecoNDPucj via @dcexaminer
Biden lies to our faces. He could now close the border with his signature on an executive order.— Gene Pavlova (@GenePavlova) February 4, 2024
The House Speaker didn’t hold back as he criticized Biden for failing to fulfill his obligations under the law and lambasted the president’s leadership, labeling it a “catastrophe.” Johnson went on to emphasize that the President could take immediate action by utilizing his executive authority under section 212 F of the Immigration and Nationality Act to close the border, citing the broad executive authority acknowledged by the Supreme Court.
When asked about the possibility of legislative action, Johnson reiterated the House’s willingness to work with the Senate but emphasized that the Senate must show seriousness in addressing the crisis. The Speaker’s strong stance reflected the Republican party’s position that executive action by the President could effectively address the border crisis without the need for new legislation.
Biden’s promise to close the border if the proposed Senate bill passes through Congress did little to sway the GOP’s argument, as they continued to assert that the President already possesses the necessary authority to act. In the ongoing battle over the border, Johnson’s pointed remarks underscored the deep partisan divide on the issue, with Republicans pushing for immediate executive action and Democrats advocating for legislative solutions.
