The Democrats on Capitol Hill are deeply split between angry progressives and protective party officials, even though President Joe Biden has not yet revealed his intended executive action on border security.
A large number of members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have spoken out against the Biden administration’s decision to tighten asylum requirements, publicly criticizing him for not implementing a policy that would provide a means to citizenship for specific undocumented immigrants.
It saddens me that the president has settled on this course of action. Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) told reporters Tuesday morning that the bill should be accompanied by measures to help long-term undocumented individuals and safeguard their rights.
Another area where progressives are visibly unhappy is with Biden’s support for a fundamental aspect of the bipartisan border agreement, which Trump had earlier this year urged Republicans to reject.
I have also communicated my disappointment to the White House. On Monday night, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) stated that it does not address the issue at the border.
It leads us to believe that the border can be secured without addressing the issue of legal immigration, which is a major problem. No amount of modernization, additional funding, or new legal avenues is going toward meeting your needs, Jayapal continued.
Lawmakers were unable to act on a Senate plan that many in the GOP essentially abandoned after one of their own helped draft it, leaving Democratic leaders on both sides of the Capitol to justify the administration’s move as the only option available to the president.
“The president is left with little choice but to act on his own,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday. “Republican intransigence forced the president’s hand.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries informed reporters on Tuesday morning that President Biden’s plans to take decisive action are crucial, considering that extreme MAGA Republicans are attempting to weaponize the border challenges rather than address them through legislation.
Other members of the Hispanic Caucus refrained from criticizing the directive right away prior to its announcement.
Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) expressed his strong opposition to any measure that would make it illegal for anyone seeking refuge, even in our state, to reunite with family members. At the moment, I have some reservations, but I will analyze it.
In his effort to address the spike in migration at the southern border, Biden did receive some ambivalent support from centrists.
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) expressed his gratitude that “something has happened” on Monday. “Anything is better than our current situation.”
An alliance of moderates called the New Democrats lauded the directive for relieving “the burden on Customs and Border Protection, immigration courts and the immigration system, and the communities we represent.” But they did stress that Congress must ultimately approve any measure addressing immigration or the border.
As predicted, Republicans blasted Biden for moving in the wrong direction, saying the directive is months overdue.
“Taken seriously, why have you waited until now to address [the border]?” approached Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who is running for leadership of the Senate. “He isn’t committed to protecting the border, that’s the simple answer.”
His Republican colleague Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas cautioned Biden, saying, “Too little, too late,” and describing the directive as a “superficial gesture” that is “not going to save your political life.”
According to Republican senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who spoke with Trump before Biden made his announcement, Trump informed Graham that the executive order was a “scam, and people will see through it.”