Two lawmakers from different political parties cautioned on Sunday that the decrease in migrants at the U.S. southern border may not be a permanent situation. They emphasized the need for congressional action in order to sustain this decline.
In separate interviews on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) acknowledged that illegal crossings have decreased in recent months. However, both expressed skepticism about whether these numbers will remain low.
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During an interview on “Face the Nation,” Margaret Brennan asked if the decrease in migrant crossings is due to the Mexican government or the policies of the Biden administration. In response, Murphy credited the decline to the successful diplomacy between the United States and Mexico.
Illegal crossings at the southern border have decreased by over 50 percent compared to the record-high numbers seen in December, as per internal government data obtained by CBS News last week.
“I’m not sure if it will be a permanent situation,” Murphy added. “Therefore, we need to acknowledge that unless we update our country’s laws and allocate more resources to the border, we can’t expect the numbers to remain as low as they are today.”
According to Gonzales, the decrease in numbers cannot be attributed to President Biden’s actions at the border.
According to a statement made on Sunday, the current surge in illegal immigration is not attributable to Joe Biden’s actions, but rather to Mexico’s role in facilitating it. The numbers may be decreasing, but the overall situation remains concerning, with an estimated 1.3 million people expected to cross the border illegally. This situation is seen as Mexico supporting Biden’s administration, and to address it effectively, Biden should focus on finding a solution in the House rather than relying solely on the Senate.
Gonzales recommended that Biden engage in more discussions with House members, rather than limiting the dialogue to the Senate where the border bill was negotiated.
“The House is the place where I think you should start if you really want to find a solution. Now, if your intention is to turn it into a political game and just point fingers at someone else, then you hold it in the Senate and claim that you’re trying your best,” expressed Gonzales.
Murphy insists that his party is in favor of bipartisan border security, alleging that Republicans and former President Trump are exploiting the border issue for political gain in the upcoming November elections.
According to the speaker, President Trump aims to maintain a chaotic border situation to gain political advantage. This presents a stark contrast between the Democratic Party and the Republicans when it comes to border issues. The speaker asserts that Democrats are in favor of bipartisan border security, while Republicans prefer a disordered border as it benefits them politically. The speaker emphasizes the importance of discussing this issue for both the president and every Democrat running for office.
In response to the recent vote, Biden criticized Republicans for obstructing the legislation, stating that the GOP shows a lack of concern for safeguarding the southern border of the United States.
In a statement Thursday, he expressed his belief that Congressional Republicans prioritize partisan politics over the security of the border and the repair of America’s immigration system. He argued that if they truly cared about these issues, they would have supported the most stringent border enforcement measures in history.
