Biden refuses to negotiate with Speaker Johnson, blames House Republicans for ongoing and escalating border crisis

By lauraharris // 2024-02-20

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House Speaker Mike Johnson is still determined to set up a meeting with President Joe Biden to address the border crisis, but the president keeps rejecting it. Instead, Biden keeps on blaming House Republicans for the ongoing and escalating border crisis across the United States. Earlier this month, Senate Republicans, on the urging of former President Donald Trump, rejected a bipartisan border security deal that would impose stricter immigration and asylum laws while providing foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. Senate Republicans voted against the bill by a narrow margin of 49 in favor and 50 against. A total of 60 votes were required for the legislation to proceed without being challenged by a filibuster. The bill is part of a $118 billion national security package that allocates $60 billion to support Ukraine, $14 billion for security assistance to Israel and $10 billion for humanitarian aid in Gaza, the West Bank, and Ukraine. Additionally, the bill plans to spend $20.2 billion to enhance border security, including $6.8 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, $7.6 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and $4 billion for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Johnson said the bipartisan border security deal presented by the Democrats was not what House Republicans had been asking for. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also defended Biden's refusal to negotiate directly with Johnson. "What is there to negotiate? Really, truly, what is the one-on-one negotiation about when he's been presented with exactly what he's asked for?" Jean-Pierre, herself a migrant, stressed that the Senate bill aligns with the House GOP's purported demands. (Related: Gaslighter Mayorkas "washes hands" and denies responsibility for the border crisis.) Johnson disputes this claim, insisting that the Senate border bill does not address the border crisis. "If the Speaker of the House can't meet with the President of the United States, that's a problem," warned Johnson, explaining how it is the legislative branch's constitutional duty to check the powers of the executive. "I don’t know why they're uncomfortable having the President sit across the table from me, but I will go in good faith," Johnson added, signaling his commitment to finding a resolution to the border crisis through open communication.

Democrats still push through with their billion-dollar foreign aid bill, while blaming GOPs

In January, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates also criticized the GOP for their opposition to Biden's border security proposals and additional funding measures.

"House Republicans have obstructed his reform proposal and consistently voted against his unprecedented border security funding year after year, hamstringing our border security in the name of extreme, partisan demands. Actions speak louder than words. House Republicans’ anti-border security record is defined by attempting to cut Customs and Border Protection personnel, opposing President Biden’s record-breaking border security funding, and refusing to take up the President’s supplemental funding request," he said.

In response, Johnson argued that it was the policies of the Biden administration that were responsible for the worsening situation. Johnson criticized the president for failing to secure the border and for policies that, in his view, invited illegal immigration rather than preventing it.

"While the President requests more funds — not to stop illegal immigration — but to process more illegal immigrants through their ‘catch and release’ policy, he has undermined security at every turn," he argued.

He linked the surge in illegal immigration encounters last month to Biden administration policies, such as the rescission of the Remain in Mexico policy and alleged abuses of parole and asylum systems.

But despite all this argument and GOP blaming, the Senate still approved a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but nothing for the U.S. border security crisis. The purpose of this bill includes $60 billion to support Ukraine against Russia, $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel, $9.2 billion for humanitarian aid and $4.8 billion to support regional partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

Read more stories about the ongoing migration crisis at OpenBorders.news. Watch this episode of "Coffee Chat" with Dr. Jane Ruby as she discusses the ongoing invasion occurring along the southern border. This video is from the Dr. Jane Ruby Show channel on Brighteon.com.

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Democrats still push through with their billion-dollar foreign aid bill, while blaming GOPs

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