On Thursday, President Biden criticized Republicans for obstructing border security legislation in the Senate, accusing the GOP of neglecting the protection of the U.S.’s southern border.
“Congressional Republicans are not committed to securing the border or addressing the flaws in America’s immigration system. Their failure to support the most stringent border enforcement measures in history today shows they prioritize partisan politics over national security,” Biden stated.
The Senate vote ended with 43 in favor and 50 against, blocking the proposal as expected. This marks the second defeat for the legislation, which was crafted over the past months by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.).
In his remarks, Biden emphasized that the bill aimed to bolster border security by increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, immigration judges, and asylum officers. It also sought funding for advanced technology to combat fentanyl trafficking.
Biden pointed out that by opposing the bill, Republicans also turned down a provision that would have granted him emergency powers to temporarily close the border during periods of high stress on the system.
He reaffirmed his dedication to reforming the immigration system, despite Republican calls for him to use executive authority to manage the border situation.
Earlier in the week, the White House highlighted the issue of fentanyl trafficking at the southern border to persuade Republicans to support the legislation, urging lawmakers to prioritize saving lives over political maneuvering.
The White House has criticized Republicans for not backing the bipartisan border bill when it was initially introduced. This opposition came after former President Trump encouraged Republicans to block the bill to keep border security a prominent issue for the elections.
On Monday, Biden spoke with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to advocate for the bill’s passage.