WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden vowed to take immediate action to curb the border crisis, saying he’s willing to “shut down” the U.S.-Mexico border if Congress approves a bipartisan proposal.
In a strongly worded statement on Friday, Biden said he supported the immigration deal in the Senate, calling it “the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we’ve ever had in our country.”
“What’s been negotiated would — if passed into law — be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we’ve ever had in our country,” Biden said. “It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed. And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law.”
Biden’s statement comes amid fears of the deal being on the verge of collapse after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) that former President Donald Trump − the 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner — opposes the deal that would give Biden a legislative win in an election year.
House Republicans have said they will only accept aid for Ukraine if it is tied with tougher immigration policies.
“A BAD BORDER DEAL IS FAR WORSE THAN NO BORDER DEAL!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social on Saturday.
Biden is seeking a deal for a $110 billion supplemental spending package, which would include stronger border measures. Under the new deal, the Department of Homeland Security would have the power to shut the border down when the average daily migrant crossings at the border exceed 4,000 over a one-week period, according to CNN.
“Securing the border through these negotiations is a win for America,” Biden said. “For everyone who is demanding tougher border control, this is the way to do it. If you’re serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill and I will sign it.”
