Representative Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, along with more than 60 House Republicans, embarked on a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday to draw attention to the persistent migrant crisis during President Joe Biden’s tenure.
Their destination is Eagle Pass, Texas, where the lawmakers are anticipated to call for stringent immigration policies, urging both Biden and the Democratic party to adopt measures aimed at halting the influx of migrants into the United States, as reported by The New York Times.
Official data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicates that in November, there were 242,418 migrant encounters, marking the third-highest figure since the inception of the crisis in late January 2021. A source from CBP informed Newsmax on Monday that December witnessed approximately 302,000 encounters at the southern border, surpassing the previous monthly record of 269,735 established in September.
The congressional visit aligns with ongoing deliberations between Senate Republicans and Democrats on an emergency spending bill, seeking to allocate over $50 billion in military aid to Ukraine. House Republicans, in particular, have insisted on comprehensive immigration reforms as a condition for endorsing this supplementary legislation.
Representative Johnson articulated on Tuesday that the situation necessitates substantial policy adjustments, affirming the commitment of House Republicans to advocate for tangible solutions that genuinely secure the nation’s border.
A spokesperson for Johnson asserted that President Biden has neglected his duty to safeguard the border. According to Politico, the spokesperson, Raj Shah, highlighted concerns about the administration’s decisions, from rescinding the “Remain in Mexico” policy to alleged abuses in parole and asylum systems, attributing these policies to the record 300,000 illegal immigrants encountered at the Southern border in the past month.
In response, the White House placed blame on the GOP for the surge in migrants, arguing that Republicans rejected a funding package that included resources for hiring new border agents, asylum officers, immigration judges, and technology to combat the trafficking of fentanyl.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates emphasized President Biden’s proposals for comprehensive immigration reform from day one and ongoing efforts to secure record funding for border security each year of his term. Despite this, a Pew Research Center survey from the previous year indicated that only 32% of U.S. adults expressed confidence in the president’s ability to make wise decisions regarding immigration policy.