President Biden speaks to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Americas Border Crossing Bridge between Mexico and the United States in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
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Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
President Biden speaks to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Americas Border Crossing Bridge between Mexico and the United States in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
President Biden will visit the U.S.-Mexico border for the first time as president on Sunday, stopping in El Paso, Texas, en route to Mexico. The visit comes after two years of wrangling with Republicans over the Biden administration’s immigration policy.
Republican state officials and the Biden administration are debating the future of Title 42, an original policy during the pandemic that allowed the United States to quickly deport most migrants seeking asylum. without hearing.
Last month, in a Republican victory, the Supreme Court blocked the Biden administration from end of policy.
The Biden administration announced that it will expand the policy to include people from Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti illegally entering the United States via Mexico – but will also widen the legal path to enter the United States The US plans to take in up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela each month.
“People come to America for so many different reasons,” Biden said in an interview. January 5 speech announcing new immigration policies. “Looking for new opportunities in the world’s strongest economy. Can’t blame them for wanting to do it. You know, they’re fleeing oppression to come — to the freest country in the world. They pursue it. My own American dream in the world’s greatest nation.”
Immigrant advocates argue that Title 42 uses public health pretexts to instead block access to protections for asylum seekers.
For months, Republican governors have sending buses full of migrants to Washington, DCand other so-called holy cities, as part of their campaign to tighten their borders.
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who has sent several buses, hand-delivered a letter to Biden during his visit. The governor is one of the strongest critics of the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
“Your border opening policies have encouraged the gangs, who have gotten rich by trading in deadly fentanyl and even people,” Abbott said. written in the letter. “Texans are paying a particularly high price for your failure, sometimes with their own lives, as local leaders from your own party will let you know if the opportunity arises.”
Biden will travel to Mexico City late Sunday, where he will attend the North American Leaders Summit.
