Joe Biden and Donald Trump exchanged accusations about the US immigration crisis during parallel visits to the US-Mexico border on Thursday You have raised one of the crucial questions regarding the elections November presidential election.
In near-simultaneous speeches in Texas, former Republican President Trump called the record number of irregular border crossings “Joe Biden’s invasion,” while the Democratic president urged his rival to stop “playing politics” by sabotaging Congress’ approval of immigration reforms has proposed to address the crisis.
Less than eight months before the elections Polls show most voters blame Biden due to the unprecedented number of illegal entries into the country.
Supported by his usual anti-immigrant rhetoric, the 77-year-old Trump wants to return to the White House and this Thursday painted a grim picture of Americans who have been “kidnapped,” “raped” and “brutally murdered” by immigrants.
“Joe Biden is responsible for this invasion,” Trump said during his speech in the town of Eagle Pass alongside hardline Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The visit to Eagle Pass was symbolic, as Abbott took military control of an area along the Rio Grande that marks the border, leading to a confrontation with the U.S. federal government.
Texas, the second most populous state in the country, is holding its primary election next Tuesday. Joe Biden and Donald Trump are by far the favorites of their respective parties.
“Play politics”
Biden is making his second border trip since taking office in 2021met with Border Patrol agents and other agents in Brownsville, Texas, about 300 miles east of Trump’s location.
Immigration is a political weakness for the 81-year-old Biden, beyond his age, and Republicans blame Biden’s pro-asylum policies for the influx of migrants.
But Biden passes the bill to Trump and accuses him of doing so Sabotage efforts to pass an immigration lawn bipartisan agreement that would give border forces more personnel and money.
“This is what I would say to Mr. Trump: Instead of playing politics with this issue and telling members of Congress to block this legislation, join me,” he said.
Before his speech, Biden, wearing a jacket and cap, walked along the river with Border Patrol agents, near a boat, a trailer and other vehicles used in their operations.
Biden was accompanied by his immigration chief, Alejandro Mayorkaswho was was impeached by House Republicans more than two weeks agofor alleged failure to comply with their obligations.
The choice of location was also important: Migrant crossings around Brownsville fell by almost a quarter in January, thanks in part to the Biden administration’s cooperation with Mexico.
weak spot
Despite the successes highlighted by Biden, In 2023 alone, more than 2.4 million migrants crossed the southern bordermostly from Central America and Venezuela, fleeing poverty, violence and disasters caused by climate change
Trump, a far-right populist, has promised the largest deportation program ever undertaken in the United States if he returns to the White House.
Trump spent much of his term in office between 2017 and 2021 Offer to complete a wall along the border with Mexico, of which only a small part was built. He sharpened his rhetoric, accusing immigrants of “poisoning the blood of the country” in comments Biden said were reminiscent of the Nazis.
The campaign by Trump described the current border as a “crime scene” and said the former president would “explain his plan to put America first and secure the border immediately upon taking office.”
Biden’s campaign team described Trump’s speech as “unhinged.”
This is what surveys show The issue is a weakness for Biden’s candidacywho is seeking a second term in office, and a poll by the American broadcaster NBC shows that Trump is 30 points ahead of Biden on the immigration issue.
Biden stressed earlier this week that he did not intentionally plan the scheduling conflict with Trump, whom he defeated in the 2020 election, and said he did not know his opponent would also go.
With information from AFP.
ORP