According to Democrats, there has been a shift in momentum on the U.S.-Mexico border issue, and it seems that voters are starting to view Republicans as all talk and no action.
In his State of the Union address on Thursday, President Joe Biden criticized conservatives for reneging on a bipartisan border security agreement, following the urging of former President Donald Trump.
“I’ve been informed that my predecessor reached out to Republicans in Congress and insisted that they block the bill,” Biden stated. “However, this is not about him or me. This bill would greatly benefit America and it deserves the support of both parties. My Republican friends, it is your responsibility to the American people to ensure this bill is passed.”
The agreement came together in February following extensive negotiations involving Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.
The proposed legislation aims to allocate funding for the development of advanced fentanyl detection technology. Additionally, it seeks to increase the number of border agents, immigration judges, and asylum officers. This bill also intends to bring significant changes to the asylum system, including a reduction in the fear standard and expedited processing of asylum claims. These measures are necessary to address the overwhelming backlog of 1.1 million court cases, which has resulted in prolonged waits for some asylum seekers in the United States, spanning months and even years.
Border authorities, who are mandated to hear the asylum claims of those who cross illegally, would reject the claims of illegal crossers and only consider cases made at ports of entry if the average number of daily crossings reached 5,000.
In early February, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urged his GOP conference to thoroughly evaluate the deal. Eventually, the agreement gained the support of influential entities such as the Chamber of Commerce, the conservative Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, and the National Border Patrol Council, the union representing border agents.
According to Murphy, voters are aware that it was Republicans who thwarted the bill. In an interview with Newsweek, he expressed his desire for the bill to have been passed and lamented that the issue has become a mere political game. However, he expressed satisfaction in seeing Democrats taking a proactive stance.
A recent poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal from February 21-28 revealed that 59 percent of voters expressed their support for the bipartisan deal. This encouraging outcome seemed to strengthen President Biden’s resolve on Thursday, even in the face of a disruption from conservative Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. During his speech, she called on him to acknowledge the tragic loss of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed in Greene’s home state. It is worth noting that an undocumented immigrant has been charged in connection with the incident.
Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat from Georgia, has a deep understanding of the tragedy surrounding Riley’s death. In his view, Republicans are using her death for political gain, which reveals their own hypocrisy.
“It is disappointing that Republicans, after saying it was an emergency, decided to do nothing,” he expressed to Newsweek. He emphasized the unfortunate politicization of the issue by individuals on the opposing side. Furthermore, he highlighted the bipartisan bill endorsed by Border Patrol that was presented just a few weeks ago. He remains dedicated to passing comprehensive immigration reform and addressing the border situation.
Republicans are of the opinion that the border bill fell short in terms of effectively addressing the issue. They believe that the daily average of 5,000 crossings is an excessively high threshold, and there is a misconception that it allows for 5,000 illegal crossers to enter the country each day.
Critics argue that the president has the power to strengthen enforcement measures. When Biden took office, he put a stop to the construction of Trump’s border wall. According to the Migration Policy Institute, he has also reduced deportations, removed barriers to entry into the United States, and increased the cap for refugee resettlement. These actions, according to critics, have created an incentive for illegal border crossings.
The number of crossings between migrants and U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reached historic highs during Biden’s presidency. In December, encounters peaked at nearly 302,000. However, the number has since decreased, with just over 176,000 crossings reported in January.
The White House is currently considering executive action to tighten border control, while Democrats are increasingly highlighting the Republican Party’s role in impeding the bipartisan agreement.
Michigan Senator Gary Peters is leading the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, with the crucial task of maintaining his party’s control over the upper chamber in the upcoming 2024 election. To achieve this, he emphasizes the importance of Democrats prioritizing the border issue as they approach the November elections. Peters’ message is clear:
“We are deeply committed to border security and addressing the issue at hand. It is crucial that we continue discussing and emphasizing the importance of this matter. It is disheartening that Republicans have consistently failed to find a viable solution. We, on the other hand, are actively working towards providing effective solutions. The need for solutions is more pressing than ever.”