President Biden Affirms Support for Senate Border Deal and Emergency Border Shutdown Authority

President Biden's Support for Border Security Deal

President Joe Biden expressed his support for the ongoing U.S. Senate negotiations on a comprehensive border security deal, emphasizing that the proposed reforms represent the "toughest and fairest" measures to secure the border in the nation's history. He further pledged to implement emergency authority to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border on the day he signs the bill into law.

Biden's Statement

During a statement, President Biden lauded the negotiations as a significant step towards enacting vital border reforms. He stated, "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." Furthermore, he emphasized his commitment to utilizing new emergency authority to close the border should it become overwhelmed, declaring, "If given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law."

Senate Border Deal and Migrant Expulsion Power

Amid bipartisan talks in the Senate, the White House has agreed to the creation of a new migrant expulsion power. This authority would facilitate the rapid return of migrants who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border to Mexico, particularly in scenarios where daily apprehensions exceed certain thresholds. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that if daily apprehensions surpass 4,000 per day, the expulsion power could be employed. Should apprehensions escalate to over 5,000 per day, the utilization of this authority would become mandatory. It's worth noting that in December, daily apprehensions averaged more than 8,000, according to U.S. government statistics released recently.

Republican Opposition and Senate Negotiations

Despite the progress in the Senate negotiations, opposition has emerged from Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump, who have expressed skepticism and reservations about the proposed deal. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled the Senate border deal as "dead on arrival" in its current form, signaling a potential challenge in its passage.

President's Call for Funding and Resources

In his address, President Biden urged Congress to allocate the funding requested in October to reinforce border security, which includes the additional deployment of border patrol agents, immigration judges, asylum officers, and cutting-edge inspection machines to combat the influx of fentanyl at the southwest border.

Looking Ahead

President Biden's backing of the Senate border deal and his commitment to implementing emergency authority to address border challenges underscore the administration's determination to address the complex issues surrounding immigration and border security. As negotiations continue, the alignment of priorities and the resolution of key concerns will be pivotal in shaping the future of U.S. border policies.