Biden reiterates commitment to border closure 'Right Now' with congressional deal

• President Joe Biden pledges to close the US-Mexico border.
• Biden declares that the deal would grant him "a new emergency authority" to close the border.
• This bold assertion surprised immigrant advocates who have expressed disappointment in Biden's policies.

In South Carolina, President Joe Biden sought to salvage a border deal in Congress, offering fresh assurances on Saturday night that he would be prepared to close the US-Mexico border if lawmakers sent him a bill to sign. Eager to address GOP criticism of his border management, Biden expressed his commitment during a political event. He emphasized that he would shut down the border immediately upon Congress passing the proposed deal, although the framework is yet to be formally agreed upon by Senate Democrats and Republicans and faces an uncertain future in the GOP-controlled House.

Biden stated, "A bipartisan bill would be good for America and help fix our broken immigration system and allow speedy access for those who deserve to be here, and Congress needs to get it done. It'll also give me as president the emergency authority to shut down the border until it can get back under control. If that bill were the law today, I'd shut down the border right now and fix it quickly."

The negotiated deal in Congress would mandate the US to close the border if around 5,000 migrants cross illegally on any given day, with some one-day totals last year exceeding 10,000. Former President Donald Trump has been pressuring Republicans to end the negotiations, reluctant to give Biden a win on an issue central to the Republican's successful 2016 campaign and crucial for his political aspirations. Despite negotiators appearing close to a deal, Trump's influence led to a fraying of the agreement.

In a written statement on Friday evening, Biden declared that the deal would grant him "a new emergency authority" to close the border. He further stated, "And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law." This bold assertion from a Democratic president surprised immigrant advocates who have expressed disappointment in his policies, considering them inconsistent with the progressive approach they anticipated.

Deirdre Schifeling, Chief Political and Advocacy Officer at the American Civil Liberties Union remarked, "Voters want to see our elected leaders do the hard work to fix our frayed immigration system. President Biden and Congress must abandon these proposals and heed voters' demands for fair and effective immigration policies that manage the border and treat people seeking safety with dignity."

Despite Biden's struggles on multiple fronts, grappling with an influx of asylum seekers while also tightening measures against illegal border crossings, Democrats are growing increasingly frustrated. The challenge lies in the fact that asylum seekers are entering cities that lack the resources to adequately care for them.

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