By Casey Harper (The Center Square)
President Joe Biden said Thursday that he will visit the southern border Sunday.
The announcement came in a speech on illegal immigration, where Biden promised more border security and pushed for increased legal immigration.
Biden said he would visit the border in El Paso, where the mayor declared a state of emergency in December because of the thousands of migrants flowing through the city.
RELATED: Another Record: Nearly 314,000 Apprehensions, Gotaways at Southern Border in December
“Our problems at the border didn’t arise overnight, and they are not going to be solved overnight,” Biden said. “It’s a difficult problem.”
The speech comes as Biden faces growing political pressure from the crisis at the southern border, where illegal immigration has surged to record levels.
The White House released a list of “border enforcement actions” Thursday, which include “expanding legal pathways” including the parole process for Venezuelans to Nicaraguans, Haitians, and Cubans and “tripling refugee resettlement from the Western Hemisphere.”
Those measures also include $23 million in additional humanitarian aid in Mexico and Central America, which Biden said would improve the conditions there so people no longer want to leave for the U.S.
“The Administration is also announcing that it is surging additional resources to the border and the region, scaling up its anti-smuggling operations and expanding coordination and support for border cities and non-governmental organizations,” the White House said in a statement. “Importantly, the actions announced today are being implemented in close partnership with Mexico and governments across the Western Hemisphere.”
The rest of the plan involved “surging resources” to the border and organizing efforts there but lacked details.
“These actions alone are not going to fix our entire immigration system, but they can help us a good deal in better managing what is a difficult challenge,” Biden said as he appeared with Vice President Kamala Harris.
RELATED: Report: Democrat Governor of Colorado Will Start Sending Illegal Immigrants to NYC
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Biden pointed to an immigration legislative framework he touted to Congress at the beginning of his term as well as additional funding requests he sent lawmakers for border personnel. He attacked Republicans several times throughout the remarks.
“We have a patchwork system that simply doesn’t work as it should,” he added, pointing to a lack of staff and judges.
Illegal immigration has soared since Biden took office, breaking records and straining border towns. As The Center Square previously reported, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents apprehended at least 226,050 people and reported at least 87,631 who avoided detainment by law enforcement in December. Combined, that totals at least 313,681 – a slight increase from November’s already record-breaking figure of 306,069.
Cartel activity and fentanyl smuggling have made the situation more dire. Fentanyl overdoses have skyrocketed.
As the crisis has grown worse, Biden has taken fire for doing little to address it. This would be his first trip to the border since becoming president.
Biden’s speech comes after he told reporters Wednesday his “intention” is to visit the border next week. That news sparked a flurry of speculation and criticism.
“Now Biden says his ‘intent’ is to visit the border next week,” U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California, said after the initial reports of the visit. “Too little, too late. But at least he’d get to see the crisis he created.”
RELATED: State of Emergency in El Paso as Border Patrol Reports Record Illegal Entries
This visit comes on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court suspending the expiration of Title 42 until justices can make a ruling on the policy. Title 42 is a Trump-era immigration policy that allows border agents to expedite expulsion of migrants in the name of preventing the spread of COVID-19 into the U.S.
Biden took a shot at that policy in his speech Thursday, but some Republicans have argued it is one of the only policies helping slow the flood of migration in the face of ongoing border dysfunction.
Republicans also blasted Biden after the announcement of his visit, saying it was overdue.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
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What the hell is wrong with this man??? He is putting the safety and wellbeing of every single American in jeopardy!! He has dementia, and that isn’t a guess or a joke. We need to get rid of this joke of a weak president. We need a person that actually cares about it’s Country and it’s people.
These “immigrants” are not “immigrants”, they are illegal aliens that have to be dealt with. Biden and his administration have ignored the laws and his oath of office and therefore all should be removed from office, ignoring the very basics of our Republic! He has endangered American lives and way of life that our Founding Fathers have created and that we have fought and died for as Americans to have a Republic. We do not need tyrants like Biden and his administration to ruin our country with his obnoxious spending bills and illegal aliens crossing our borders at will. Biden and the administration have invited this illegal encounter at the border and he and his administration will be made to pay for it by Congress and any good Americans that happen to be left in the democrat party. There are some that are left but they are few. The others should pay for complicit voting that is unlawful in this country to ignore laws and the Constitution because they can ignore them.
Keep allowing the third world in and America will be third world too. We have homeless Americans and Vets, we need to take care of our own first.
RE:
“Our problems at the border didn’t arise overnight, and they are not going to be solved overnight,” Biden said. “It’s a difficult problem.”
You’re making it far worse, deliberately, Brandon.
Biden’s idea of “Legal Immigration” is certainly unique, like Soros’ Open Society”.
What we need is no one gets in unless they go thru an entry point and are processed and deemed worthy of entrance. Invaders need to be shot when they cross the border. Invasion needs to be stopped and only those processed be allowed to enter. Those who don’t meet standard at an entry point need to be immediately kicked back across the border.
Yes, he is insane.
Far to little far to late Joe. Making an appearance now as an attempt to bolster your standing before the coming 2024 election is not likely to work with those that are not weakminded.
is this guy nuts or what ?
This man is a proven traitor to the USA. He needs REMOVED from OFFOICE immediately!!!!!!
I’ve thought of migrating to Canada. I would have to be able to show I can support myself or invest a whole bunch of money in Canada. So Biden wants us to accept all these unwashed, many sick, without skills other than farming (and yes we do need them). There are another 500 million waiting in the wings and Biden will feed, educate and house them until they might make their way in a Hispanic community. They won’t assimilate into a United States that existed in 1960, they will merely produce a United States of Hispania.