Over a dozen House Democrats are asking President Biden to use his executive authority to secure the border. They argue that the deadlock in Congress on this issue leaves him with no other choice but to act on his own.
In a letter delivered to the president on Tuesday, 15 Democrats — most of them in competitive reelection contests — said the only lasting solution for curbing the migrant tide and the flow of fentanyl is for both parties to join forces and pass legislative fixes. But after Republicans blocked a bipartisan border bill earlier in the year, the issue has little chance of reemerging before November’s elections, creating a void only the White House can fill.
“It has become clear that the current situation remains untenable, but with Republicans playing politics on border security, it is time for your administration to act,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge you to use all tools at your disposal, including executive action, to better address security at the Southern border, interdict illicit fentanyl and allow for orderly legal immigration.”
The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and endorsed by 14 other House Democrats, including Reps. Susan Wild (Pa.), Mike Levin (Calif.), Steven Horsford (Nev.), Matt Cartwright (Pa.), Susie Lee (Nev.), Sharice Davids (Kan.), Chris Pappas (N.H.), and Hillary Scholten (Mich.) — all of whom are ranked among the vulnerable lawmakers identified by the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper.
Some Democrats are worried that the border issue could hurt their chances in the November elections. They urge Biden to address security at the Southern border and the flow of illicit fentanyl, and to allow for legal immigration using executive action. The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and endorsed by 14 other House Democrats, including Reps. Susan Wild (Pa.), Mike Levin (Calif.), Steven Horsford (Nev.), Matt Cartwright (Pa.), Susie Lee (Nev.), Sharice Davids (Kan.), Chris Pappas (N.H.), and Hillary Scholten (Mich.) — all of whom are ranked among the vulnerable lawmakers about immigration in general and the border in particular.
In February, after months of hard negotiations, a group of bipartisan senators reached a deal on tougher border security measures to accompany a massive foreign aid package, including fresh military help for Ukraine and Israel. The border provisions were a demand of conservatives in both chambers, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who said Congress would be derelict to protect the borders of other countries without also protecting its own.
This package was derailed after former President Trump advised Republicans not to support any border reforms before the election — an issue he’s hoping to use against Biden on the campaign trail.
Trump’s request changed the debate, as Republicans quickly criticized the bipartisan agreement as being too weak. Johnson declared it “dead on arrival” in the House, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), after championing the deal, voted with most Republicans to sink it in the upper chamber.
Democrats, including Biden, have criticized Republicans for abandoning the border issue, saying they missed the chance to achieve bipartisan immigration reforms that have evaded Congress for decades.
Despite the criticisms, conditions at the southern border have not improved, with thousands of migrants continuing to arrive seeking asylum each day — a situation that has fueled GOP attacks on Biden’s handling of the crisis.
The 15 Democrats wrote a letter accusing Republicans of not addressing the problem through legislation in order to use it against Democrats in campaigns.
The Democrats expressed disappointment that House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to bring a bipartisan bill to secure the border for debate, opting to use the crisis for political gain instead of addressing the national security issue.
They want Biden to take executive action to address the fentanyl crisis and the challenges faced by local governments in providing housing and services for asylum seekers due to the widespread nature of the problem.
In the letter, they mentioned that the border situation has affected their constituents in all congressional districts.
