Democrats rush to defend Biden amid rising borders



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Democratic leaders unite to defend President BidenJoe BidenPentagon Takes Heat To Extend Guard’s Time At Capitol Booker To Try To Make Child Tax Credit Expansion Permanent Sullivan Says Tariffs Will Not Be Central Talks With China READ MOREHandling the surge of migrants on the southern border, where the detention of thousands of children has threatened to spark a humanitarian crisis – and undermine Democratic promises to tackle the dilemma with more compassion than the old ones President TrumpDonald TrumpPentagon Takes Heat For Extending Guard’s Time At Capitol Fundraising Spits Points At Trump-GOP Cracks Trump Rally Organizer Says Alex Jones Threatened To Take Her Off The Stage: Report READ MORE.

The question is thorny for Democrats, who have spent the past four years denigrating the Trump administration’s approach to border arrivals, which included a particularly controversial policy of separating children from their parents to deter families from Central America to make the trip.

While Biden has strayed sharply from these draconian practices, the sheer volume of new arrivals – including many unaccompanied children – has put profound pressure on the ability of border officials to process detainees and move them to facilities. safer and more sanitary – a process complicated by social distancing protocols adopted during the coronavirus pandemic.

A recent CNN talk described the detention centers, overseen by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as “akin to jail cells and not intended for children.”

Yet Democratic leaders play down the emerging crisis and rally around Biden, expressing confidence that their White House ally will prioritize child welfare as he tackles the growing emergency. .

“It will be nothing of what we have seen in the Trump administration, babies snatched from their parents’ arms,” ​​he said. Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi launches debate on infrastructure, urging bipartisanship Biden celebrate relief bill with Democratic GOP leader to try to force Swalwell out of panel MORE (D-Calif.) Said Thursday during a press briefing. “I am convinced that the policy of the Biden administration is based on[ism] and love of children, rather than political points or red meat for their Republican base. “

Under current law, migrant children detained at the border must remain in the care of CBP for more than 72 hours before being transferred to facilities supervised by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a branch of the Department of Health. and social services.

Representative Peter Aguilar (Calif.), Vice chairman of the Democratic caucus, said party leaders are closely monitoring the administration to ensure these guidelines are followed.

“There is a process for this. The Biden administration will move forward with this process, and we will hold them accountable, just as we did with the previous administration, to make sure they obey the law, ”Aguilar told reporters this week. “But it’s a process rooted in compassion. And that’s the difference between the previous administration and this administration.

The surge in border arrivals has highlighted the challenge border officials face, even when they have the most humane of intentions.

In February alone, CBP officers encountered more than 100,000 migrants attempting to cross the southwestern states – a 28% increase from the previous month and nearly three times the number in February 2020.

Of these, nearly 9,500 were unaccompanied minors, up 61% from January. And agency documents uncovered by both CNN and the New York Times revealed that, on average, these children are held by CBP for longer than the 72-hour legal cap.

Administration officials have sought to stem the rising tide by discouraging Central American migrants from making the long journey north.

“The border is not open,” Roberta Jacobson, Biden’s southern border coordinator, said on Wednesday.

Yet Jacobson also acknowledged that the administration’s more lenient immigration policies – which include proposals to extend citizenship to millions of people living illegally in the country – likely encouraged the recent surge in migrants.

“Pushes tend to meet hope, and there was significant hope for more humane politics after four years, you know, pent-up demand,” she said.

The developments have not been overlooked by Republicans on Capitol Hill, who have launched a media campaign designed to highlight the growing border crisis – and Democrats’ struggles to deal with it.

The GOP’s strategy is reminiscent of Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, and extremist and hawkish views on border issues helped propel him into the White House in 2016. Republicans in Congress are now re-launching aspects of Trump’s playbook in their attempt to win back the House and Senate midway through 2022.

“Biden has created a border crisis that he won’t admit; 100,000 illegal immigrants were encountered last month. Put that into perspective. It’s bigger than our president’s hometown of Scranton, Pa. Biden, and now it’s only growing month after month, ”said parliamentary minority leader Kevin mccarthyKevin McCarthyGOP leader to try to force Swalwell out of Biden panel to overturn Trump’s order on treatment of young migrants House Democrats set to make proxy voting the ‘new normal’ MORE (R-Calif.), Who called for a meeting with Biden over the border, told Fox News on Friday.

Biden “tears up the wall in a border but he puts it around the Capitol.”

On Monday, McCarthy will lead a delegation of a dozen House Republicans on a visit to the border and a migrant processing center in El Paso, Texas. The group includes a handful of swing-district Republicans as the representatives. Yvette Harrell (NM), Maria Salazar (Florida), Carlos Jimenez (Florida), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa) and Tony Gonzales (Texas).

The planned visit follows a press conference on Capitol Hill this week where some 40 House Republicans denounced what they call the “Biden border crisis.” At times, lawmakers seemed to be competing to see who could pronounce Biden’s name the most.

“Thousands of people cross the United States illegally every day. Border states are invaded. It is a drain on their resources. There are super spreader trailers coming ”, Minority Whip Steve scaliseStephen (Steve) Joseph Scalise No Republican Backs .9T COVID-19 Relief Bill Leading Republicans seek to allay concerns over Trump’s funding requests 57 Republicans are heading to the House to push to reopen the PLUS schools (R-La.) Said. “And this was all done by President Biden, and President Biden can address and reverse this policy… We call on President Biden to reverse his policies that created this Biden border crisis.”

Addition of the New York representative. John katkoJohn Michael KatkoHillicon Valley: Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect Critical Infrastructure After Florida Water Hacking | Clyburn and Klobuchar Push One Billion People to Close the Digital Divide | Uber and Lyft will share information on banned drivers for “ most serious ” safety incidents., the main Republican of the Homeland Security Committee: “It’s border mess by decree, to channel Dr Seuss.”

But Rep. Mark TakanoMark Allan TakanoK Street Navigates Virtual Inauguration Week Hoyer Calls on VA Secretary Wilkie to Resign After Surveillance Report Pelosi Calls on Wilkie to Resign from VA After Surveillance Report Finds MORE (D-Calif.), Which represents a predominantly Hispanic district in Riverside County, argued that the GOP’s “reflexive, nativist and anti-immigrant sentiment” from the GOP is bad for the US economy.

“If you were to suddenly get rid of 8 million people, our economy would contract dramatically,” Takano told The Hill, as Republicans denounced Biden’s immigration policies just steps from their press conference.

“Why a path to citizenship? Well, that means your Social Security is stronger, which means Medicare is on solid ground. This is an argument that all Americans, I think, can appreciate … We must recognize the contribution that [immigrants] contribute to the economic dynamism they bring to our society. “

Biden is no stranger to the issue of border surges. As vice president to former President Obama, he focused on federal efforts improve conditions in the so-called North Triangle countries of Central America – Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador – where most migrants come from. The idea is that by helping these countries reduce corruption and fight poverty, fewer residents will want to leave – a strategy that will be included in a comprehensive immigration reform package currently being drafted by Rep. Linda sanchezLinda Teresa Sánchez Democrats debate fast track for infrastructure package Biden’s immigration bill has problems – many of them (D-Calif.) And other members of the Hispanic Caucus.

“You don’t go into this until you sort out the Northern Triangle issues,” Aguilar said.

As they scramble to finalize their comprehensive reform agenda, House Democrats are rushing with their immigration agenda, holding votes next week on a pair of bills providing a pathway to the citizenship for migrant farm workers, immigrants with the status of illegally brought into the country as children.



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