Texas is set to witness a historic event on Thursday, as two presidents, one incumbent and one former, visit the state’s border with Mexico. Former President Donald Trump will be in Eagle Pass, accompanied by Republican officials, while President Joe Biden will be in Brownsville, joined by Democratic officials. This visit comes just ahead of the Texas primary election on March 6.
Both Trump and Biden are anticipated to emerge victorious in their respective party primaries in Texas next week.
Republicans are questioning the timing of Biden’s visit to the border in Texas, especially considering the ongoing border crisis and the upcoming election. They believe that his decision to go now may be politically motivated.
According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden plans to visit Brownsville in order to emphasize the importance of congressional Republicans putting an end to political games and providing the necessary funding for additional U.S. Border Patrol agents, more asylum officers, fentanyl detection technology, and more.
Jean-Pierre was talking about a bill that was negotiated by Senate Democrats and Republican Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma. This bill aimed to codify mass migration, illegal entry, and prevent states from suing over federal policies. Texas officials disagreed with this bill and argued that it would have negative consequences. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the bill was “dead on arrival.” Despite some media reports suggesting that Trump influenced the House to reject the bill, Johnson and others contend that the House had already passed its own border security bill. However, the Senate has chosen not to consider it.
During his presidency, Trump made several visits to Texas and had numerous meetings with Border Patrol agents as well as state and local officials.
In January 8, 2022, during his presidency, Biden made a trip to Texas. While en route to a meeting in Mexico City, he took the opportunity to visit a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in El Paso. During his visit, Biden also met with Democratic leaders in the area.
Upon his arrival at the El Paso International Airport, Abbott personally handed Biden a letter outlining five policies aimed at securing the border. Despite not being invited to meet with Biden in his own state, Abbott has persistently reached out to the president through multiple letters, alongside other Republican governors, without receiving any response.
Abbott has urged the president to adhere to the laws enacted by Congress in order to ensure border security. In contrast, Biden has long maintained that there is no crisis at the border. Johnson, however, has presented a different perspective, highlighting 64 policies implemented by the Biden administration that he believes have contributed to the border crisis.
In a historic first, the 45th and 46th presidents made visits to Texas on the same day. This rare occurrence marks the convergence of two leaders with starkly contrasting policies, each having produced different outcomes.
During the Trump administration, federal agents were mandated to adhere to federal detention and deportation policies. Additionally, they implemented the Remain in Mexico and Title 42 public health authority policies. Despite facing opposition from both Congress and the legal system, the administration managed to construct and expand hundreds of miles of border wall. According to Trump, Abbott, and 25 Republican governors, these measures resulted in the lowest level of illegal entry in the history of the United States. Law enforcement officials have expressed concerns over the potential release of unknown numbers of individuals into the country under the Biden administration, highlighting the importance of apprehending dangerous criminals.
On his first day in office, Biden issued an executive order to put a stop to all of Trump’s border policies, which included the halting of detention, deportation, and removal measures. Additionally, the construction of the border wall was also put on hold, along with the suspension of the Remain in Mexico policy and other related measures. Biden claims that his approach to border policies is more compassionate compared to that of Trump’s.
According to several attorneys general who have filed lawsuits to halt them, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has established more than a dozen “parole” policies. These policies are designed to enable the transportation, processing, and release of millions of individuals from over 170 countries into the United States through “lawful pathways.” These individuals would not have been granted legal entry otherwise.
According to The Center Square, the number of people illegally entering the country, including fugitives and individuals with known or suspected terrorist ties, has reached over 11 million since January 2021. This marks the highest number of illegal border crossers in U.S. history. Notably, the months of December 2023 and January 2024 saw the largest influx of illegal border crossers ever recorded.
According to The Center Square, Texas has faced the greatest impact of illegal entry, with over 1.9 million individuals entering in fiscal 2023 alone.
In April 2021, Texas Governor Abbott initiated Operation Lone Star, a border security mission aimed at implementing measures to enhance border security. Governor Abbott argues that these measures are necessary due to the federal government’s failure to address the issue adequately under Biden’s policies. To ensure the safety of Texans and all Americans, the Texas legislature has allocated over $11.6 billion over a four-year period to fund these border security efforts, despite the fact that this burden should not fall on Texas taxpayers.
According to Trump Campaign Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in response to Biden’s visit to Texas, she stated, “Crooked Joe Biden has had three years to visit the border and address the crisis he created. Now, Biden’s handlers are sending him there on the same day as President Trump’s publicly reported trip. Biden’s last-minute, insincere attempt to chase President Trump to the border won’t be enough.”