'No deals!': Joe Biden slammed after calling on Congress to give him more power to fix border crisis

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden, facing mounting pressure over the escalating crisis at the southern border, declared on Tuesday, January 30, that he has "done all [he] can do" and urged Congress to grant him additional powers to address the situation effectively.

The president made these remarks outside the White House just before departing for a fundraising trip to Palm Beach, Florida.

Biden urges Congress for additional powers

"I've done all I can do," Biden insisted. "Give me the power. I've asked from the very day I got in office. Give me the border patrol, give me the judges, give me the people who can stop this and make it work right."

While Biden insists he has exhausted his efforts, Congress is currently in the process of negotiating a border bill that he has already endorsed, though the final details are still under discussion. The Senate is working towards a compromise bill after tying Biden's request for more Ukraine funding to increased border control measures.

However, negotiations hit a snag when former President Donald Trump announced his lack of support, and Speaker Mike Johnson suggested the bill would be 'dead on arrival' in the House.

Biden's surprising support for compromise

In a surprising turn, Biden expressed support for the compromise, even stating he would close the southern border "right now" if Congress passed the legislation.

The proposed plan grants the Department of Homeland Security new emergency authority to shut down the border if daily illegal crossings surpass 4,000 over a one-week period. Certain migrants fleeing torture or persecution would be allowed to stay.

Lawmakers are also exploring changes to asylum processing, aiming to reduce resolution time to six months and raising standards for asylum determination. Republicans argue that the current system encourages migrants to come to the U.S., and critics claim it is being abused.

Biden's shift in stance regarding border control measures contrasts with his previous emphasis on "humanitarian" measures and is seen as a response to the border crisis becoming a potent political issue for Republicans ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Trump criticized the Senate bill, asserting the need for a "Strong, Powerful, and essentially 'PERFECT' Border." He insisted that unless Republicans achieve these goals, "we are better off not making a deal."

House Republicans are taking their own approach, preparing for a key vote on the potential impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of "willful and systematic" refusal to enforce immigration laws.

The White House, however, shifted blame onto Republicans in Congress. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Monday, "Congress needs to act. They must act. Speaker Johnson and House Republicans should provide the administration with the policy changes and funding needed."

Social media reactions

Regardless, Biden faced criticism on social media for his plea to Congress for more power.

"NO DEALS! Biden has all the tools necessary to close the border. He doesn’t need more money for Ukraine to get it done," one posted on X.

"Catch and Release. Remain in Mexico. Construction of the border wall. Joe Biden ended all 3 of these on day 1 of his presidency with an executive order. This border crisis is all his fault," another wrote.

"He has the power to reinstall ALL of the Trump policies that were working that he uninstalled !!" someone else added.

"Joe Biden has done everything in his power from day one to ensure that this invasion continues," another insisted.

It's worth noting that border crossings reached a new record in December. Border Patrol reported a staggering 249,785 arrests on the Mexican border during that month, marking a substantial 31% increase from the 191,112 recorded in November. This figure also represents a 13% surge from the previous all-time high of 222,018 in December 2022, PBS reported.