NEWS WEEK
Speaking with the press on Tuesday morning, President Joe Biden said he has done “all I can do” as the standoff between Texas and the Biden administration continues.
“I’ve done all I can do. Just give me the power. Give me the border patrol. Give me the people. The judges. Give me the people who can stop this and make it work right,” Biden told reporters.
Context
Biden continues to face bipartisan criticism over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border as the country continues to experience a high number of migrant border crossings. There were more than 2.4 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border during the 2023 fiscal year, up from roughly 1.7 million in 2021, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.
Republicans say the uptick in migrants is a direct result of Biden’s border policies, which they say incentivize illegal immigration. Other experts say other factors including political and financial instability in some Central American countries drive migration to the U.S.
Immigration is among the top issues ahead of the 2024 presidential election with polls showing doubts over Biden’s handling of the situation, on which Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has promised tougher action.
What We Know
Tensions associated with the handling of the escalating situation at the U.S.-Mexico border ramped up last week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that federal Border Patrol agents could remove razor wire and other barriers constructed along to border to curb immigration. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to continue to utilize the Texas National Guard to combat record numbers of migrant encounters, saying, “This is not over…
