WorthyNews:Speaker to Biden: ‘Any Bill That Does Not … Secure The Border Is Not Acceptable’

[WorthyNewsBot]

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor

(Worthy News) – President Joe Biden met with Congressional leaders on Wednesday to discuss funding for Ukraine and the U.S. border, among other issues, in a proposed national security supplemental bill.

Ahead of the meeting, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told reporters that House Republicans are “demanding real transformative policy change to secure the border because that is what the American people need and deserve.”

Johnson later called the meeting “productive,” but said they brought 64 examples of executive actions taken by the administration “to create the current catastrophe that we have at the border. It is a national security and a humanitarian catastrophe.”

The speaker also addressed the stalemate over more funding for Ukraine.

“We understand there is concern about the safety and security and sovereignty of Ukraine, but the American people have those same concerns about our own domestic sovereignty and our safety and our security, he said. “We have talked about the necessary elements to solve this problem,” pointing to HR 2, which the House passed. It would restore Trump-era policies including “Remain in Mexico,” ending catch and release, and reforming “the broken asylum and parole systems,” among other measures.

Johnson said the House “is ready to act but the legislation has to solve the problem.”

Regarding Ukraine, he said, “the status quo is unacceptable. We need the commander in chief of this country, the president of the United States, to show strength on the world stage and not weakness. We cannot continue with the current status quo.”

Johnson reiterated that securing the U.S. border must be the top priority.

“I think we have some consensus around the table,” he added. “Everyone understands the urgency of that and we’re going to continue to press forward.”

In news interviews that followed, Johnson said Biden created the problem through executive action and could end the problem through executive action.

Biden has made no such acknowledgements, having over the last several years blamed border-related issues on the Trump administration.

In a recent interview when asked about the border crisis, he replied there was none.

When asked by a reporter, “Would you call the situation on the southern border a ‘crisis’?” he replied, “No but I would say … we have to make major changes at the border. I’m prepared to make significant alterations with the negotiations going on.”

After Wednesday’s meeting, Biden posted a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “Today, I brought together Congressional leaders to make clear the importance of getting Ukraine what it needs to defend itself from Putin’s aggression. Failure to act endangers the security of the U.S. and the free world. Congress, don’t delay. Pass my national security supplemental. The time to act is now.”

Johnson edited the post, redlining the part about Ukraine and replacing it with “Securing the Border.”

https://worthynews-1fe3e.kxcdn.com/wordpressimages/2024/01/speaker-johnson-border-security.webp

He also said, “If only the president focused on our sovereignty first.”

The meeting came after Johnson and other members of Congress visited Eagle Pass, Texas, earlier this month. Local residents told The Center Square they are tired of news conferences, want the border shut down, and if Congress continues to fund Biden administration policies, Congress is complicit in creating the border crisis.

Negotiations about the border crisis continue after Congress already appropriated more than $113 billion to Ukraine without any stipulations for how and where the money is spent. By contrast, Congress has not appropriated a fraction of this amount to U.S. border security.

Numerous leaders in the House and Senate, the director of the FBI and others have warned about heightened terrorist threats coming through both borders. In fiscal 2023, the greatest number of known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) were apprehended at the northern border of 487. The U.S.-Canada border, the longest international border in the world totaling 5,525 miles, is left largely unmanned and unprotected, critics note.

Despite being understaffed, CBP agents recently apprehended an Iranian with terrorist ties in Niagara Falls, New York; 46 KSTs have been apprehended at the northern border so far in fiscal 2024, compared to 34 at the southwest border, according to CBP data.

The busiest northern border sector alone reported a 550% increase in apprehensions in fiscal 2023, totaling more than the previous 11 years combined.

At a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday, former ICE Director Tom Homan said the administration had “created the greatest national security crisis since 9/11.”

Border Patrol agents have arrested foreign nationals from 181 countries, he said, including from countries that sponsor terrorism.

Reprinted with permission from The Center Square.

The post Speaker to Biden: ‘Any Bill That Does Not … Secure The Border Is Not Acceptable’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

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[The Barbarian]

On 1/18/2024 at 10:24 AM, WorthyNewsBot said:

Despite being understaffed, CBP agents recently apprehended an Iranian with terrorist ties in Niagara Falls, New York; 46 KSTs have been apprehended at the northern border so far in fiscal 2024, compared to 34 at the southwest border, according to CBP data.

They are understaffed, the Speaker of the House considers it "unacceptable" to increase funding and staffing for immigration enforcement, and he continues to block Biden's request to do so.    The need for a campaign issue outweighs the good of the United States, in his thinking.

This is today's republican party. 

 

[FJK]

1 hour ago, The Barbarian said:

They are understaffed, the Speaker of the House considers it "unacceptable" to increase funding and staffing for immigration enforcement, and he continues to block Biden's request to do so. 

What has Biden cone so far that would indicate he would do anything other than what he has so far if given more money to do it?

From all that I see going on, Biden would find securing the border unacceptable no matter how much money he is given to do it and will not do anything to secure it even if he pretends he will to get more money for other things he wants.

FWIW, I'm not a Republican.

[The Barbarian]

They are understaffed, the Speaker of the House considers it "unacceptable" to increase funding and staffing for immigration enforcement, and he continues to block Biden's request to do so. 

4 hours ago, FJK said:

What has Biden cone so far that would indicate he would do anything other than what he has so far if given more money to do it?

Ask to increase funding for border security, to hire more officers, and to ramp up patrols.   As you learned, republicans have rejected his requests for the obvious reasons.    They only talk about border security; they don't actually want to do anything about it.

4 hours ago, FJK said:

From all that I see going on,

Deportations of migrants rise to more than 142,000 under Biden

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2023/12/29/immigrants-ice-border-deportations-2023/

4 hours ago, FJK said:

Biden would find securing the border unacceptable

If so, it's kinda hard to explain why he's deporting so many people.   Did you really not know this?

4 hours ago, FJK said:

FWIW, I'm not a Republican.

At this point, you seem to have been completely unaware of the situation.    Which might lead people to think you are a republican.

 

[FJK]

13 hours ago, The Barbarian said:

At this point, you seem to have been completely unaware of the situation.    Which might lead people to think you are a republican.

This is a personal insult and jab aimed at provoking argument, it's the sort of thing that shuts down civility in discussions.

[The Barbarian]

26 minutes ago, FJK said:

This is a personal insult

It's an observation, based on your posts.    You seemed to be completely unaware of the large number of illegal immigrants removed under Biden's administration.     I didn't accuse you of being a republican; I merely noted that being unaware of the Biden administration's increase in border enforcement might lead people to think you are a republican.   

I suppose if I actually thought you were a republican, that could be a criticism.   But I took you at your word that you are not a republican.

 

[FJK]

1 minute ago, The Barbarian said:

You seemed to be completely unaware of the large number of illegal immigrants removed under Biden's administration. 

Well, I won't male such observation about you. so I'd appreciate it if you would show a bit of respect in return and avoid doing that about me.

But let me ask a question:  How many have come in under Biden and allowed to enter the country with practically no vetting involved (something no one who reads even the legacy news should be unaware of)?

And another question:  How many border agents are there now compared wth how many there were ion past administrations?

Are the percentages of migrants being deported against the total of those  entering increasing or decreasing vs previous administrations?

This is what the issue of border security is about, this is what the security and safety of our nation is about.

[Rick-Parker]

142,000 deported vs 8.11 million illegal entries. The border is open. Did anyone see the video of a number of large trucks running the port of entry filled with illegals? The border is wide open! All the Biden Administration has to do is enforce the laws already on the books. The border is wide open!!!

[The Barbarian]

2 hours ago, FJK said:

You seemed to be completely unaware of the large number of illegal immigrants removed under Biden's administration. 

 

2 hours ago, FJK said:

Well, I won't male such observation about you.

For good reason.  I'm aware of the numbers.

 

2 hours ago, FJK said:

But let me ask a question:  How many have come in under Biden and allowed to enter the country with practically no vetting involved (something no one who reads even the legacy news should be unaware of)?

Too many.  Which is why Biden is asking for more resources to secure the border.   It's also why the republicans are so far, refusing to agree to fund such efforts.    They need the issue more than they want America safe.   Trump is backing them up on their attempts to make the border more open:

WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump is trying to torpedo a bipartisan border security package, putting new pressure on Republicans to reject a deal that Senate negotiators have been crafting for months.

It’s the latest example of the former president leveraging his popularity within the GOP to influence Republican officeholders – even as he lacks any formal powers to set the political agenda. If Trump openly campaigns against it, Republicans will have a hard time supporting the border security deal that is now favored by many senators in their own party.

The proposal – which has not yet been finalized – would reportedly approve several conservative border priorities. The deal would call for stricter asylum standards and new deportation powers in exchange for a $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other domestic and foreign goals that are related to the mission of keeping the country safe.

https://news.yahoo.com/trump-weighs-border-security-deal-105211342.html

Part of the problem for Trump is that Putin really doesn't want Ukraine to have more weapons and ammunition; he's managed to slow the advance of Ukrainian forces so far, but more aid will make it harder for him.    Trump will not do anything that offends Putin.

But Trump also needs the border issue for his own political objectives.   If the republicans cooperate with Biden and tighten controls on the border, that issue is gone.

2 hours ago, FJK said:

And another question:  How many border agents are there now compared wth how many there were ion past administrations?

Fewer than there would be if the republicans would pass Biden's proposal to beef up border enforcement.   That would make America more secure, but it would take an issue away from the republicans.   And given the two choices, they decided to take care of their needs rather than the needs of America.

This is what the issue of border security is about, this is what the security and safety of our nation is about.

[FJK]

1 minute ago, The Barbarian said:

Too many.  Which is why Biden is asking for more resources to secure the border. 

Maybe he should have graciously accepted the help Texas was giving him with their own barriers instead of diverting needed resources to opposing  and removing them  I imagine there are other States that would jump in and lend a hand and resources to help with it too if Biden were willing to accept it.

So why do you suppose Biden is opposing increased border security by rejecting and preventing help in securing it?

Money rarely solves anything on a governmental level, at least from what I've seen in the many decades of my life.