WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – In dueling border visits, President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are both in Texas.
The leaders are highlighting immigration issues but have vastly different stances on how to fix them.
President Biden went to Brownsville and 300 miles away his republican rival former president Trump visited Eagle Pass.
“A very dangerous border, we’re going to take care of it,” Trump said.
Both leaders agree the U.S.is facing an immigration crisis with an overwhelming surge of people trying to cross the border each day.
President Biden is using his trip to push Congress to act says White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
“Highlight the need for Congress to pass the bipartisan security agreement that was negotiated out of the Senate,” she said.
Last month Senate negotiators came up with a bipartisan border bill but Republicans blocked the legislation after the former president came out against it.
“Donald Trump deliberately sabotaged the very same border reforms he spent years calling for,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Trump blames President Biden for the border issues and Republicans argue the president already has the power he needs to crack down on immigration.
“He needs to take executive action right now. He needed to take it yesterday and the day before. He needs to secure that border and protect our communities, because lives are being lost and we cannot wait,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
As President Biden and former president Trump fight to win the 2024 election immigration is a central campaign issue.
Republicans meanwhile are continuing to fight for strength and control we want to keep criminals out and our family safe,” Johnson added.
However, Democrats disagree.
“Republicans have no right to say they’re focused on solutions when they’re the ones creating the issue,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).
Trump’s team says Biden is copying him by visiting the border, but the White House insists this trip has been in the works for a while now.
