The White House statement comes after a week of frantic negotiations in the Senate.

The White House statement comes after a week of frantic negotiations in the Senate.

President Joe Biden on Friday urged Congress to pass a bipartisan bill to address the immigration crisis at the nation’s southern border, saying he would shut down the border the day the bill became law.

“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 in a statement. “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 Friday evening statement resembles a ramping up in rhetoric for the administration, placing the president philosophically in the camp arguing that the border may hit a point where closure is needed. The White House’s decision to have Biden weigh in also speaks to the delicate nature of the dealmaking, and the urgency facing his administration to take action on the border — particularly during an election year, when Republicans have used the issue to rally their base.

The president is also daring Republicans to reject the deal as it faces a make-or-break moment amid GOP fissures.

  • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
    125·
    11 months ago

    When do we send troops south to deal with the issues driving people to come north?

    “There are too many refugees coming from over there, let’s turn it into a warzone, those don’t produce so many refugees” like, come on now

    • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
      57·
      11 months ago

      I see, so we should just continue doing what we have been doing, and hope for different results. We should just stand by and watch as the situation worsens, as the rates increase, and continue to do nothing about it.

      Like, come on now.

      Yes, any military action would increase the number of refugees. But, we would also be able to establish refugee centers within their borders, instead of our own. And, the increase would be temporary, and eventually lower the total number.

      If Abbott is ready to commit Texas troops to solve the problem, let’s go ahead and deploy them to El Salvador, Guatamala, Honduras, and solve the problem at its source.

      • SpaceCowboy
        3·
        11 months ago

        The US doesn’t have the best track record with nation building.

        • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
          4·
          11 months ago

          Point taken. Counterpoint: What’s El Salvador’s record on nation building?

          What nation has the best record? Let’s invite them to take charge.