President Biden and former President Donald Trump are scheduled to visit the United States-Mexico border in Texas on Thursday, highlighting the ongoing debate over the border crisis. During the White House briefing on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the issue, defending President Biden’s approach and citing the need for bipartisan legislation to solve the problem. She emphasized that Republicans have a responsibility to cooperate on immigration reform, rather than using it solely as a political issue.
Jean-Pierre responded to questions regarding the President’s authority to act unilaterally, stating, “Why should he have to do it unilaterally? Why shouldn’t we do it in a legislative way?” She highlighted that President Biden has taken 94 executive actions to reverse Trump’s border policies since taking office in 2021. However, she argued that a legislative approach is crucial for addressing the broader challenges associated with the border crisis and the immigration system as a whole.
According to Jean-Pierre, the Biden administration has made progress on bipartisan legislation in the past three and a half years. She expressed confidence that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is capable of advancing a comprehensive immigration bill. However, Republicans in both the Senate and House of Representatives have indicated that they will unite to block any Democrat-backed border bill. Despite falling short of the necessary votes in February, Schumer plans to reintroduce the bill for consideration.
The White House has expressed support for Schumer’s efforts, urging senators to prioritize border security over partisan politics. The debate over the border crisis and the effectiveness of the Biden administration’s approach is expected to intensify as the issue remains at the forefront of public discourse.
