'There isn't even a hand there': Pramila Jayapal mocked for calling Biden's border policy 'heavy-handed'

WASHINGTON, DC: In a House committee hearing on Thursday, January 11, Rep Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash) expressed "serious concerns" regarding President Joe Biden's border policies, highlighting her worries about the administration's approach to immigration enforcement.

During a hearing on illegal immigration and the cost of social services, Jayapal addressed the perceived "fear-mongering" surrounding the issue.

Biden's border policies are 'heavy-handed,' says Jayapal

“There is so much fear-mongering going on that it is difficult to know exactly where to start. But let me say this first, the Biden administration is enforcing immigration laws. In fact, the administration has been so heavy-handed in recent months that I have serious concerns about how they are conducting border enforcement,” she stated. 

“This is especially true when it comes to the administration’s regulations that limit access to asylum and the use of expedited processing procedures for families,” she added.

Furthermore, Jayapal compared the number of migrants removed by the Biden administration to that of former President Trump.

"Since the end of Title 42 last year, the Biden administration has removed or returned to Mexico over 400,000 individuals, including over 65,000 individual members of family units, including children," she noted. "This total is nearly equivalent to the number of people removed in all of fiscal year 2019 under Donald Trump, so the idea that the administration is not enforcing the law is ridiculous."

House Republicans have consistently criticized the Biden administration's immigration policies, accusing it of failing to secure the border. The ongoing debate has even led to threats of withholding funding for Ukraine until a resolution on border-related issues is achieved, The Hill reported.

Jayapal also accused Republicans of using immigration policies as a political talking point.

“This hearing is supposed to distract the American people from the fact that my Republican colleagues have absolutely no accomplishments to run on,” she said. “Once again, they are trying to scapegoat immigrants by making claims about undocumented immigrants’ use of social services.”

“However, under our laws, they are not eligible for the vast majority of federal benefits. But beyond that, it is absurd to say that immigrants are a drain on the economy,” she added.

Jayapal highlighted studies supporting the positive economic impact of immigrants, both documented and undocumented.

She took to X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, "The idea that our economy is hurt by immigrants in any way is an absurd, factually inaccurate talking point from extreme MAGA Republicans." She criticized House Republicans for their focus on HR 2, a bill she described as "cruel and extreme."

The bill aims to resume construction on the border wall, limit asylum eligibility, and add penalties for overstaying visas. Despite passing the House, it faces challenges in the Democratic-led Senate.

Meanwhile, US Customs and Border Protection processed over 302,000 people at the US-Mexico border in December alone. The surge in immigration has prompted concerns, particularly in New York City, where an influx of immigrants has led to some students resorting to remote learning to accommodate the additional population in city schools, according to the Washington Examiner.

Jayapal faces backlash online

Jayapal was notably excoriated on social media for claiming that Biden’s border policies are "heavy-handed."

"'Heavy handed?' LMAO There isn't even a hand down there. And neither side wants to stop it. Republicans are negotiating not an end to the flood, but how much of a flood to accept," one posted on X.

"There is no heavy-handed border policies it's an open border," another wrote.

"Is his heavy hand stuck on the 'open borders' button? Wtf is she talking about. No one can believe that lol," someone else added.

"And why haven’t you opened up your 4 homes to house illegals?" a comment read.

"Progressive Democrats are useless," another insisted.

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