In a stern message on Thursday, the Border Patrol’s representative body directed a clear admonition towards President Biden, advising him to refrain from involving their name in his discourse, just hours ahead of his scheduled visit to the border. This visit by the President is aimed at convening with border officials and advocating for a legislative proposal in the Senate concerning border management.
Both Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, are set to visit the border, with Biden’s itinerary taking him to Brownsville, Texas, situated in the Rio Grande Valley. His agenda includes discussions with Border Patrol personnel, law enforcement officers, and local dignitaries.
“The President plans to engage in briefings on border security operations and receive detailed reports from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Following these briefings, he intends to stress the urgency for Congressional Republicans to prioritize our nation’s border security over political maneuvering, and to endorse the bipartisan border security proposal,” stated an official from the White House.
This bipartisan legislation, which proposes additional resources for Border Patrol and related agencies, financial support for municipalities and states dealing with migrant influxes, and restrictions on asylum claims, has received support from the union. Nonetheless, conservative members of Congress have dismissed the proposal, arguing it would lead to the normalization of excessively high levels of illegal immigration, and the bill has stalled as a result.
Although the National Border Patrol Council has shown support for the bipartisan bill that Biden endorses, it has also expressed significant criticism towards the administration’s approach to border issues, voicing their displeasure openly on social media.
The union also released a statement earlier this week, labeling the President’s visit as insufficient and belated.
“Despite the potential for late implementation of effective policies, the primary motive appears to be an attempt to salvage his political standing. Such last-minute, self-serving efforts should prompt Americans to reflect on their implications. The concern is that, if re-elected, the President might revert to policies favoring less stringent border controls,” the union articulated.
“The President’s decision to visit the border now is perceived as a self-preserving move. The focus on border security should transcend political interests and prioritize the well-being and safety of our nation and its citizens,” they added.
The timing of this visit is crucial as illegal immigration emerges as a pivotal concern in upcoming elections, with a significant portion of the electorate viewing it as a major threat to the nation.
President Biden aims to challenge the Republicans, reiterating his administration’s stance that they are navigating a flawed system that urgently requires financial support and legislative reforms from Congress. The administration also highlights a record of over 550,000 deportations since the previous May, a figure unprecedented since Fiscal Year 23.
However, Republicans attribute the ongoing border crisis, marked by a record 2.4 million encounters in Fiscal Year 24 alone, to policies introduced during Biden’s term, citing increased releases into the U.S. interior and a reduction in internal enforcement efforts.
