Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, is applying pressure on President Joe Biden to actually use his constitutional authority to take executive action and help bring the crisis unfolding at the southern border of the United States to an end. As we’ve been reporting for years now, ever since Biden took office in 2021, he has essentially put in place an open borders policy by neglecting to take any sort of steps to build a wall and enforce immigration law on the books, leading to hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants flooding into the country on a weekly, even daily, basis.
According to the Daily Wire:
A letter from Johnson to Biden warned about the “record” tide of illegal immigration, which he blamed on the current administration’s policies, and encouraged the commander in chief to consider a number of options under existing law in lieu of an immediate legislative solution.
The list included ending catch-and-release, stopping the “exploitation” of parole authority, reviving asylum cooperation agreements with Mexico, ramping up “expedited” removal of migrants who fail to qualify for asylum, and renewing construction of a border wall.
The border is in crisis.
The House passed H.R. 2 more than six months ago, but Senate Democrats left town without taking any action.
Mr. President—border security starts with you. It’s time to take action today to secure the border.
Read my full letter ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rW0Z3zs1HL
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) December 21, 2023
Johnson also pressed Biden to use Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives the president the power to block entry to foreigners deemed to be “detrimental” to U.S. interests, to “regain operational control of the border.”
The letter was sent out as the Senate continues discussions where negotiators are working to come up with some kind of agreement that would tie border security measures into aid for our foreign allies such as Israel and Ukraine. Unfortunately, not much progress has been made so things are looking to continue into the new year.
Earlier in December, Biden said, “I am willing to make significant compromises on the border. We need to fix the broken border system. It is broken. And thus far, I’ve gotten no response.”
You have to wonder how much what he’s saying is true here. If he is really attempting to reach out and is willing to make big compromises, I’m sure some sort of deal would have already been made. However, that’s not the case.
Johnson pointed out the Republican Party in the House already passed border legislation earlier in the year. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, would not allow the Senate to take up the bill, tossing it out as “partisan right-wing demands.”
Underscoring a sense of urgency, the speaker’s letter talked about how U.S. Customs and Border Protection is at a “breaking point” with “shocking” data showing thousands of illegal immigrants entering the United States every day over the past year.
Johnson lamented an influx of fentanyl, human trafficking, and devastation of local communities. “We are now more vulnerable to a terrorist attack on our homeland than ever,” he also said.
Johnson took to X where he provided a summary of the letter saying, “The border is in crisis. The House passed H.R. 2 more than six months ago, but Senate Democrats left town without taking any action. Mr. President — border security starts with you. It’s time to take action today to secure the border.”