Speaker Mike Johnson lashes out at Biden’s border policy as illegal migrants flood in: ‘Heartbreaking and infuriating’
Republican House speaker Mike Johnson has blamed the “unmitigated disaster” at the US-Mexico border on Joe Biden.
Dubbing the scenes on the border “heartbreaking and infuriating”, Johnson said issues have only been exacerbated through Biden’s tenure.
Johnson trekked to Eagle Pass in Texas on Wednesday to learn more about the “breaking point” the US finds itself at.
It comes after it was revealed over 302,000 people crossed the border illegally in December, the highest total for a month in history.
“The situation here and across the country is truly unconscionable. We would describe it as both heartbreaking and infuriating”, he said during a press conference.
Discussing the White House’s ongoing effort to stem the tide, he said: “Madness is the only word we can think of to describe this.”
He also warned officials have “no idea how many terrorists have come into the country”.
The two parties have clashed on the matter in recent weeks with both factions claiming the other are to blame.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that Texas is to blame for the crisis, claiming Gov. Greg Abbott has not “coordinated” with other governors and state leaders.
The Republicans are demanding the administration reinstates Trump-era ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy and start immediately deporting migrants who entered illegally.
House Republicans are set to return to Washington next week, and Johnson told reporters about their top priorities.
“We want to get the border closed and secured first, and we want to make sure that we reduce non-defence discretionary spending,” he said.
Congress and Joe Biden are also locked in a stalemate over Ukraine funding.
The coffers have run dry and the President is determined to secure more support for Zelensky’s war efforts.
The Republicans are keen to shift the narrative to border troubles, with the issue becoming a key battleground for the 2024 election.
“We gotta do something, they gotta give me the money I need to protect the border”, Biden said upon returning to Washington on Tuesday.