Pres. Joe Biden's first State of The Union speech had a disappointing lack of substance when it came to addressing one of the most significant self-made crises of Biden's administration - immigration and a still-deteriorating southern border.
The president delivered a winding sixty-two-minute speech comprised of just under 6,500 words. However, less than 200 of those words focused on the U.S. immigration system and Biden's border crisis, a topic shown by a slew of national polls to be one of the top issues facing this nation according to voters across the political spectrum.
During the immigration segment of the State of The Union speech, which accounted for roughly 3% of the total address, Biden stated, "And if we are to advance liberty and justice, we need to secure the border and fix the immigration system. We can do both." Biden's sudden interest in securing the border was surprising, to say the least; possibly indicating the White House's awakening to the impact its border crisis has had not only on American communities - but also American voters.
The president argued that his administration had taken action to secure the border, stating, "At our border, we've installed new technology like cutting-edge scanners to better detect drug smuggling. We've set up joint patrols with Mexico and Guatemala to catch more human traffickers."
However, while President Biden appeared to take credit for security actions taken under the past administration, he did not mention his administration's tireless efforts to gut life-saving and labor-protecting measures the previous administration also took. For example, the Biden Administration has halted construction of the congressionally appropriated border barrier, attempted to end Remain in Mexico, canceled other 'safe third country' agreements in Central America, reversed President Trump's end of "catch and release", abolished Immigration and Customs Enforcement in all but name, and much more.
Biden then recommitted to his administration's promises to streamline the United State's legal immigration system to make it easier for new immigrants to gain access to America - including refugees and those hoping to claim asylum. Additionally, Biden touted the work his administration had completed in the realm of "root causes," which he and the Vice President say are responsible for the latest uptick in uncontrolled mass migration into the U.S.
The president read, "We're putting in place dedicated immigration judges so families fleeing persecution and violence can have their cases heard faster. We're securing commitments and supporting partners in South and Central America to host more refugees and secure their own borders." Before adding the bromidic, emotionally-charged tagline - "We can do all this while keeping lit the torch of liberty that has led generations of immigrants to this land—my forefathers and so many of yours."
Unfortunately, the immigration segment of the president's speech only went downhill from there. Biden then reiterated his commitment to the largest amnesty for illegal aliens in American history. Despite the notion many picked up on, that the president had given up on his flagship legislation (the Build Back Better bill), Biden still demanded that the U.S. "Provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, those on temporary status, farm workers, and essential workers."
The president followed up with the insulting argument that a looser labor market, which has historically been proven to suppress wages and widen income gaps, would help alleviate the strains caused by a non-existent 'labor shortage' in the U.S. Stating that the U.S. must "Revise our laws so businesses have the workers they need and families don't wait decades to reunite."
The simple fact is, There is NO job Americans won't do!
The president used the endorsement of unscrupulous corporate bureaucrats, particularly those at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and those in the executive positions of America's labor unions, as cover for his statement. Biden argued, "It's not only the right thing to do—it's the economically smart thing to do. That's why immigration reform is supported by everyone from labor unions to religious leaders to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce."
The president concluded the immigration segment of his speech with an attempt to rally those in congress and their elite coastal supporters with the dubious cry, "Let's get it done once and for all."
You can read President Biden's entire State of The Union speech here.
