President Biden finally called the problematic situation at the southern border what it is - a crisis. The sudden change came during an impromptu meeting between the President and reporters in Delaware, where Biden also attempted to defend his Friday flip-flop on refugee admissions.
For context, last Friday, President Biden signed an executive order keeping the Trump Administration’s 15,000 person cap for refugee admittance this year. A ‘too good to be true’ decision placing the interests of suffering Americans first as the country recovers from a pandemic-driven recession and an additional immigration crisis.
Biden’s announcement was immediately met with staunch resistance from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, particularly lead by Reps. Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley.
Completely and utterly unacceptable. Biden promised to welcome immigrants, and people voted for him based on that promise.
Upholding the xenophobic and racist policies of the Trump admin, incl the historically low + plummeted refugee cap, is flat out wrong.
Keep your promise. - Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.-14)
This is an extension of the previous administration's cruel policies and is completely unacceptable.
Refugees are fleeing climate disaster and political violence that the United States, in many cases, has perpetuated. @POTUS must shift course. - Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (Mass.-7th).
Say it ain’t so, President Joe. This is unacceptable. - Senator Dick Durbin (Illinios).
The appeal to the President appears to have worked as White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki later announced that Biden plans to announce a higher cap by May 15th. Psaki further backpedaled, falling on her ritualistic bromidic blame of the previous administration, stating that the President’s plan to increase refugee admittance was not possible yet because the Trump Administration “decimated” the program.
Today, President Biden was caught by reporters in Delaware where he declared;
We’re going to increase the number [of refugees allowed into the country]! The problem was that the refugee part was working on the crisis that ended up on the border with young people.
Biden appeared to be following the narrative set by Psaki, saying that the strain on the nation’s immigration authorities caused by the crisis at the border has made it impossible for the administration or immigration authorities to increase the number of refugees.
Psaki then defended Biden’s reversal by saying a president’s job is “to act in the national interest of the United States — and that’s exactly what he’s doing.”
For the complete story, please visit the New York Post.
