This week, the House adopted a resolution denouncing the border policies of the Biden administration and scolding President Joe Biden for “refusing” to utilize his authority to halt the unauthorized immigration flow across the southern border.
House Republicans passed the measure 226 to 193, with a resounding majority in favor of it. Republicans are continuing to attack Biden for what they see as his apparent lack of responsibility for border security, and this time, 14 House Democrats voted in favor of the resolution.
Republicans claim that the Biden administration is restricting expedited removal, which “only incentivizes illegal immigration and deepens the border situation.” Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) filed the resolution.
During Biden’s State of the Union speech on Thursday of last week, the border situation dominated the rage of Republican legislators, many of whom said they were met with “blame-shifting” instead of answers. On the same day, De La Cruz proposed the resolution.
De La Cruz declared on Tuesday that “the existing situation of our nation’s border security is unsustainable.” “The Biden administration’s actions have put our communities in jeopardy and put a burden on our resources, resulting in the biggest border security crisis in our country’s history.”
The lawmaker went on, “The resolution highlights the critical need for the Biden administration to take strong action to solve the situation at our border.” “To restore control of the situation and safeguard the interests of the American people, we encourage the government to quickly begin using the authorities at their disposal.”
The high-profile death of nursing student Laken Riley, who was reportedly slain by a Venezuelan immigrant who had been detained and then freed after being accused of entering the country illegally, cast a shadow on Biden’s address.
Republicans called on Democrats to support House Resolution 2, a border security resolution that passed the House last year, as a response to Riley’s murder, which sparked a discussion over how to handle border security. GOP senators have responded to border security with further legislative measures, blaming Biden for reversing Trump administration immigration plans.
Just hours before Biden stood to speak, the House enacted the Laken Riley Act, requiring immigration authorities to hold foreign nationals accused of theft or burglary.
Particularly coming into the crucial 2024 election year, when polls indicate that immigration is one of the top issues that is important to voters, Republican campaigns at the state and federal levels have turned to border security and immigration as their primary assault on the president.
However, a lot of House Democrats feel that Tuesday’s resolution is just another example of Republicans procrastinating rather than trying to get bipartisan border legislation on the floor. Republicans in the House and Senate have come under fire from Democrats for virtually defeating a bipartisan border-Ukraine funding plan in February.
The combined plan, according to House GOP leadership, would be “dead on arrival,” requiring the Senate to approve a law on borderless Ukraine, which Speaker Mike Johnson of the House does not seem likely to bring to the floor for a vote.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) stated before the vote, “I think this is just another example of Republicans wanting the issue more than the solution.” “Passing resolutions and acts of Congress won’t fix the problem. The only way to truly resolve the issue is to invest resources and collaborate across party lines.
Referring to Republicans, Aguilar went on, “They can’t pass a lot of bills.” “Therefore, they will approve some items that provide them pleasure.”
Author:Â Steven Sinclaire
