Staff Reports
The House has taken a stand against the Biden administration’s porous border policies, slamming the president for jeopardizing national security as illegal immigration skyrockets at the southern border. In a resounding 225-187 vote, with 14 courageous Democrats crossing party lines, lawmakers passed a resolution condemning the Biden White House over the “public safety crisis along the southwest border.”
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— Mike (@gupdiver) January 17, 2024
This symbolic measure, although lacking in direct legislative impact, sends a clear and stern message to President Joe Biden that his open-border policies are nothing short of disastrous. House Republicans are demanding an end to the administration’s abysmal border policies, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) pressing Biden to employ his executive authority to tackle the rampant influx of illegal immigrants into the country.
The resolution didn’t mince words, calling out the staggering 7 million immigrants encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection during the Biden administration. Shockingly, over 3.3 million of these individuals have been released into the country while awaiting proceedings. Furthermore, an additional 1.7 million “gotaways” eluded CBP agents and managed to sneak into the United States, adding to the chaos.
In response to these alarming numbers, House Republicans have fervently pushed for stricter border security legislation, emphasizing the urgency to address the crisis at the southern border. Despite recent discussions at the White House, where Johnson and other congressional leaders met with Biden, the prospects of achieving viable border policies seem grim. The Senate’s attempt to negotiate a border policy agreement, tied to foreign aid for Ukraine, has hit a snag, with the House showing little enthusiasm for approval.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has made it abundantly clear that now is not the time for comprehensive immigration reform, taking a swipe at the Senate’s sluggish border talks. While Senate Republicans strive to enact policy changes, including asylum restrictions, the specter of Democratic concessions seeping into the bill has considerably dampened its appeal in the House.
Meanwhile, discontent brims among House conservatives, who are contemplating withholding their support on spending legislation unless stringent border policies are set in motion. As the government hurtles toward a potential shutdown, slated for Friday, tensions are running high. With a growing sense of urgency, Senate and House leaders have put forward a stopgap measure, aiming to prolong the spending deadlines and avert a shutdown.
The legislation’s journey through the House is anticipated to face resistance from conservative quarters, but Democratic and centrist Republican backing is expected to see it through. The House’s resounding condemnation of the Biden administration’s border failures has set the stage for a showdown at the southern border, demanding swift action to fortify national security and safeguard the integrity of the nation.
