President Joe Biden urged Donald Trump to aid in advancing a stalled Congressional plan aimed at reducing migrant crossings during their simultaneous border visits.
Biden, speaking from Brownsville, Texas, near the Mexico border, denounced Republicans for rebuffing a bipartisan initiative to strengthen immigration regulations, attributing their reluctance to Trump’s directive not to pass any measures that could bolster Biden’s administration.
Biden and Trump, the Republican ex-president in his third presidential bid, appear poised for a contentious rematch on November 5th, as indicated by close polling numbers.
Biden addressed Trump directly, stating,
“Instead of instructing Congress to obstruct this legislation, collaborate with me—or allow me to join you—in urging Congress to approve this bipartisan security measure.”
He also emphasized his intention to ensure transparency regarding the reasons behind the legislative inaction.
Following briefings from border patrol agents and local stakeholders, Biden emphasized the urgent need for additional resources.
Similarly, Trump engaged with local authorities and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, addressing border challenges at the Rio Grande and Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, where migrant crossings have posed significant issues for authorities.
“This is a Biden invasion over the past three years,” Trump said, citing crimes committed by migrants and referring to the issue at the border as a “war”, in the latest examples of the increasingly inflammatory language he has used in recent months.
He vowed to reinstate policies from his previous administration, such as the “Remain in Mexico” initiative, which mandated certain migrants to await the resolution of their U.S. immigration cases in Mexico.
Additionally, hundreds of Trump supporters assembled near Shelby Park, an area repurposed to deter illegal border crossings, brandishing “Make America Great Again” and “Never Surrender” flags.
Upon assuming office in 2021, Biden pledged to reverse Trump’s stringent immigration policies. However, he has subsequently adopted a firmer stance.
Facing criticism from Republicans regarding border control, Biden urged Congress last year to allocate additional enforcement funding and expressed willingness to “shut down the border” if granted authority to repel migrants.
Additionally, the White House is contemplating utilizing executive powers to limit asylum for more migrants, according to a knowledgeable source.
Republicans argue that Biden could enhance law enforcement efforts and enact new executive measures without Congressional approval.
Biden was accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whom Republican lawmakers have recently attempted to impeach for his border management, though such efforts are unlikely to progress in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
“This visit is centered on our actions, not the rhetoric of others,” Mayorkas remarked to reporters aboard Air Force One.
