President Joe Biden wants Republicans to stop "weaponizing" the U.S.-Mexico border crisis.
Apparently, being criticized for a self-inflicted problem is the new definition of "weaponization."
Biden, according to the White House, pleaded with Republicans to stop using the southern border crisis against him in a speech that he gave at the White House, on Friday.
The speech was part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors' winter meeting.
During his speech, Biden said that he has been working with Congress in order to address the southern border crisis.
Biden said:
So, let me be clear. My team has been at the table for weeks now on a partisan — with a bipartisan group of senators to negotiate a deal, including border, because I believe we need significant policy changes at the border, including changes in our asylum system to ensure that we have authorities we need to control the border. And I’m ready to act.
The president went on to say that he is hoping that "a bipartisan package" is "going to pass" the U.S. Senate at some point within the next week. And, it was at this point that Biden asked Republicans to stop using the southern border crisis against him.
"Now, the question is for the Speaker and the House Republicans: Are they ready to act as well?" Biden said.
He continued, "They have to choose whether they want to solve a problem or keep weaponizing the issue to score political points against the President. I’m ready to solve the problem. I really am. Massive changes — and I mean it sincerely."
One has to ask whether Biden really is sincere here, considering what we have seen from him since he took over for former President Donald Trump.
One of the first things that Biden did as president was to essentially open up the U.S.-Mexico border by invalidating Trump's more stringent border policies. It has been more of the same ever since.
The result has been record setting illegal immigration statistics. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) saw over 276,000 encounters in December 2023, which was a record, and things are showing no signs of slowing down.
Biden, as a result, has been getting hammered in the polls on the immigration issue. It has gotten so bad for Biden that even some members of his own party have turned against him on this issue.
Nonetheless, it is hard to believe that much is going to change under the Biden administration. The only real change is going to be the rhetoric, especially because it is an election year. Biden will likely attempt to make it appear as though he is addressing the southern border crisis, while not actually doing so, and he will attempt to use this ploy to shift the blame for the problem onto Republicans.
