By Megan Lebowitz, Politics Reporter for F5 Magazine
President Joe Biden is optimistic about the potential for a Senate agreement on border policy as early as next week. During a meeting with mayors at the White House, Biden expressed his readiness to implement “massive changes” to the asylum system and control the border. He also called on House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans to join him in addressing this hot-button issue.
Biden emphasized the need for bipartisan collaboration, challenging the speaker and House Republicans to choose between solving the problem or using it as a political weapon. He asserted, “I’m ready to solve the problem. I really am. Massive changes, and I mean it sincerely.”
While Johnson’s office has not responded to Biden’s call, the president’s remarks came during a speech to a bipartisan group of mayors attending a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting at the White House. This follows Biden’s meeting with congressional leaders earlier in the week to discuss a potential immigration deal, which could be tied to aid for Ukraine and Israel.
The White House had previously proposed a $106 billion funding bill, including aid for Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. border operations. However, Republicans blocked the bill, demanding changes to U.S. border and immigration policies. Biden’s handling of border policy could potentially impact his reelection chances, as a recent NBC News poll found that 45% of registered voters believe the GOP handles immigration issues better, while only 27% picked Democrats.
Stay tuned for updates on the progress of the Senate negotiations to address the border situation. For more information, visit F5 Magazine.
Rebecca Kaplan contributed to this report.
Source: Biden says Senate may come to a border deal as early as next week