House Speaker Mike Johnson vehemently criticized the Senate’s bipartisan immigration deal in his inaugural floor speech, condemning its perceived lack of transformative policies to address the ongoing border crisis.
While the final text of the agreement is yet to be released, Johnson is already laying the groundwork for the House to reject it. He argued that, based on preliminary information, the deal does not encompass the necessary policy changes essential to halt the border catastrophe.
In his speech, Johnson also asserted that President Joe Biden possesses the executive authority to take more significant actions to combat illegal immigration.
He accused Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of contributing to the crisis, stating they had “designed this catastrophe.” Johnson suggested that Biden has falsely claimed the need for congressional approval to close the southern border, although historical court challenges have limited such executive actions in the past.
The speaker referenced former President Donald Trump’s attempts to close the southern border during his tenure, citing immigration law provisions. However, these efforts were thwarted by court rulings. Johnson specifically mentioned the 2018 case, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Trump, where a federal appeals court determined that the president’s authority conflicted with asylum law.
Johnson’s criticism extends to the treatment of undocumented immigrants, emphasizing that some are provided court dates years into the future, calling the process “absurd.” He highlighted the overwhelmed immigration court system, contributing to significant delays in proceedings.
While Johnson’s inaugural floor speech marked a low-key event, his strong opposition to the Senate deal aligns with former President Trump’s recent attacks on the emerging agreement. Despite the absence of a final text, Johnson is actively pushing back against the deal, emphasizing the urgency of comprehensive policy changes to address the complex issues at the border.
