President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are scheduled to make trips to the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, adding fuel to the ongoing debate over border security policy as the 2024 election looms.
The White House disclosed that Biden will head to Brownsville, Texas, where he plans to engage with local leaders, Border Patrol agents, law enforcement officials, and frontline workers. The focal point of discussion will revolve around a bipartisan proposal that faced a setback in the Senate following opposition from Trump.
The proposed legislation aimed to bolster border security measures by recruiting an additional 1,500 border patrol personnel, increasing the number of asylum officers by 4,300, expanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention capacity by 50,000 beds, hiring 100 more immigration judges, and allocating funds for the installation of 100 drug inspection machines.
Moreover, it included $1.4 billion in funding to support cities and states grappling with the surge in immigrant arrivals.
Described by the White House as a move to enhance national security, fortify border integrity, and ensure fair and humane treatment of individuals while upholding the principles of legal immigration, the proposal garnered support from entities such as the Border Patrol Union, the Chamber of Commerce, the South Texas Alliance of Cities, and The Wall Street Journal.
However, Senate Republicans rejected the measure, which initially had links to funding for Ukraine and Israel. Trump’s public stance underscores his intention to keep immigration and border policies in the public spotlight as the election approaches.
Trump, announcing his visit ahead of Biden’s, will journey to Eagle Pass, where Texas authorities have erected barriers along the Rio Grande to impede unauthorized border crossings. Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for Trump’s campaign, criticized Biden, alleging his border engagement to be insincere and motivated by the issue’s political ramifications, which have proved unfavorable for Democrats.
Expected to accompany Trump during his visit is Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, known for his confrontations with the Biden administration on various fronts.
