President Joe Biden emphasized the toughness and fairness of the border deal being negotiated in the U.S. Senate, pledging to “shut down the border” upon signing the bill. Bipartisan talks face challenges amid rising Republican opposition, with some linking a border security deal to further Ukraine aid.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson deems the deal “dead on arrival” in its current form, citing a letter to Republican lawmakers. Biden, aiming for reelection, confronts record migrant crossings. Republicans advocate maintaining Trump’s restrictive policies.
Biden lauds the negotiated reforms as the toughest and fairest for border security. The proposed emergency authority would allow the President to close the border when overwhelmed, an action promised upon signing.
The White House agrees to asylum limits, including an expulsion power for migrants crossing illegally. If encounters surpass 4,000 per day, migrants can be rapidly returned to Mexico, becoming mandatory at 5,000 encounters. December saw an average of over 9,500 daily encounters.
Comparable to Trump’s Title 42 policy, the bill aims to expedite asylum claims within six months without detention. Migrants can still claim asylum at legal crossings during expulsion periods.
Trump warns against a deal not meeting Republican expectations. Biden urges Congress to fund border security, including additional agents, judges, officers, and inspection machines to combat fentanyl.
