A Democrat senator, voicing his concerns on Friday, highlighted the challenges posed by the influx of illegal immigrants in undermining the American dream.
Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) expressed his bewilderment over the controversy surrounding the need for a secure border during an interview with CNN.
Read More: Jean Carroll testifies Trump’s defamation damaged her status
Fetterman advocates for balanced approach to immigration, border security
“I honestly don’t understand why it’s controversial to say we need a secure border. I’ve been very clear in my race that I’m very much a strong supporter of immigration, and … I think two things can be true at the same time. You can be very supportive of immigration, but we also need to have a secure border,” he said.
Fetterman emphasized the complexity of providing the American dream to migrants against massive border arrivals.
“We want to provide the American dream for any migrant, but it seems very difficult when you have 300,000 people showing up at the border,” he added. His remarks indicated the need for Congress to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure border security.
Political deadlock: Border security and foreign aid
The Biden administration’s stance on Ukraine and its proposal for additional assistance to the Eastern European country has hit a deadlock with the Republican majority in the House.
They demand a concrete plan for border security as a prerequisite for approving further aid to Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) emphasized the necessity of addressing the border crisis first during a meeting with President Biden on January 17.
“I told the president what I have been saying for many months, and that is that we must have change at the border, substantive policy change,” Johnson stated.
Johnson blames Biden for border crisis, citing rise in illegal crossings
Mr. Johnson accused President Biden and his administration of creating the current border crisis, citing multiple instances of executive actions contributing to the situation.
“We documented 64 instances where the president took executive action or his agencies to take action to create the current catastrophe that we have at the border. This is a national security and humanitarian catastrophe,” he asserted.
Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveal a significant rise in illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border following President Biden’s inauguration.
Also Read: Biden extends apology, through aide, to Hutchinson for DNC’s comments
Border encounters spike; Texas responds by transporting immigrants
The monthly encounters, around 70,000 during President Donald Trump’s tenure, surged rapidly after that period, reaching over 242,000 in November 2023.
Texas and other border states have faced immense pressure due to the influx of illegal immigrants.
In response, Texas has transported some of these immigrants to Democrat-governed cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia.
Emergency declarations in cities; NYC Mayor lacks federal support
This action led to emergency declarations in several of these cities.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, facing the consequences of this influx, sought assistance from the Biden administration.
Despite multiple visits to the White House, he reported not receiving substantial aid from the administration.
Biden blames Republicans amid immigration policy criticism
Amid bipartisan criticism, President Biden attempted to shift the blame onto Republicans.
“I have been clear from the very beginning the system is broken. On my first day in office, I said Congress comprehensive plan and immigration reform. My friends on the other side have done nothing with it,” he claimed during a speech at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting.
Conversely, Republicans argue that President Biden’s decisions on his first day, including terminating the national emergency at the southern border and halting the construction of the border wall, signaled a loosening of immigration policies and encouraged illegal immigration.
Read Next: Speaker Johnson pushes Biden for border policy discussion in White House meeting
