Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Issues a Warning to Joe Biden on the Border
By: Andrew Stanton (Newsweek)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By Andrew Stanton Weekend Staff WriterFOLLOW
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued a warning to President Joe Biden following reports he may use new executive action amid an uptick in migrant arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Biden has sought to take action to strengthen border security measures as the southern border continues to see high levels of migrant crossings. The border situation has created a political headache for Biden as he seeks reelection in November. Republicans have blamed his policies for the increase, though experts note external political and economic factors play a substantial role in driving migration.
There were more than 2.4 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border during the 2023 fiscal year, up from roughly 1.7 million in 2021, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
On Wednesday, several news outlets including the Associated Press reported that the Biden administration has been looking into a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that may give the president the authority to block some migrants from entering the U.S. if it would be "detrimental" to the national interest.
This provision was used by the Trump administration, including when they banned travelers from several Muslim-majority nations. Notably, the AP reported that the plans are not finalized, citing three people who are "familiar with the deliberations."
Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democrat representing New York's 14th Congressional District, slammed the idea in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday night.
Ocasio-Cortez said that Biden should "refuse to sign" this executive order, describing its "mere suggestion" as "outrageous."
"Doing Trump impressions isn't how we beat Trump. Seeking asylum is a legal right of all people. In the face of authoritarian threat, we should not buckle on our principles - we should commit to them," she wrote.
Newsweek reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's office and Biden's campaign for comment via email.
Ocasio-Cortez has broken from Biden over key policies throughout his tenure, as she remains one of the most progressive members of Congress. She endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign and identifies as a democratic socialist.
Despite voicing criticisms of Biden at times, she backed Biden in 2024, saying during a July 2023 appearance on the "Pod Saves America" podcast that she believes he has done "quite well, given the limitations that we have."
Biden has sparked ire from progressives over his immigration policy. In December, the president faced backlash from some progressives over his negotiations with Republicans to reach a deal on immigration and border security that has since been blocked by conservatives.
Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, warned during that legislative battle in December that Biden could lose support from the progressive base if he does not consider their needs.
"The base of the Democratic Party—young people, folks of color, immigrants—that was the coalition that allowed Joe Biden to get elected.... This coalition is splitting apart. We need the president and his campaign to pay attention to what is happening on the ground," she said.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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The Mouth of The Bronx has spoken, Biden.
Are you going to do something or ignore her because you know more people would like to see you do SOMETHING about the border after 3 years of ignoring it?
Even if they recognize it is a mere election ploy?
And AOC, if your little coalition of misfits seems to be in danger of breaking up--TOUGH!
Biden looks to be ignoring her. Which I think is the smart play as it's not like Progressives are not going to vote for Biden and risk another round of Trump.
Her brand of populism won't work to govern any more than the Freedom Caucus version does. I'd love to see them all go away.
The DNC is probably happy that the progressives will continue to be sheep.
A smart play would have been for Biden to address the issue long ago.
What you want them to have more influence like the Freedom Caucus has with the RNC?
The smart play would be for Congress to get off their ass and stop working against each other. The moderates have handed their balls to their party leadership instead of insisting on governing. It's makes for good politics, but really, really shitty governing.
I think The Squad is a collection of ignorant, rabble-rousing misfits and the Democratic Party deserves them.
Such an expected thing to absolve Biden of responsibility for failing to enforce our laws already in the books.
I feel the same for both sides of this populism explosion. The parties could be doing something to kill this political cancer, but have chosen not to.
HOW any administration choses to enforce immigration law has been debated ad nauseum. I don't see any benefit in doing more of it. And I do not absolve Biden's choices any, more or any less than the any other administration.
I'm only saying we wouldn't be having this discussion if Congress (BOTH parties) had any desire to act.
Think about that comment for a minute.
Congress HAS acted, as laws are on the books.
What makes you think some new law will be enforced when we already know existing laws are not?
And there is only so many resources available ALL administration prioritize how they fulfill their duties.
What makes you think increasing the available resources wouldn't be used? I had no problems with much of the recent Senate bill. It would have been a coup for the Republicans if the House had taken it up and passed it. It did increase some resources AND changed the threshold for asylum.
For starters, Biden did virtually nothing for 3 years.
Look, we all know this is just an election-year ploy by Biden to appear tough on immigration without ever actually doing anything.
That can't actually be in dispute at this point.
Not true, but whatever.
Yes, Biden's tough border talk is an election-year ploy. I'm not debating that. It's the same as Trump's talk about how horrible the Senate bill was. It's politics. I'm saying if you want solutions you're not going to get them from any Administration.
The building of a major National Guard base in Eagle Pass is masterful stroke of politics IF they actually get it built. I'm skeptical it can be done at the scale it was announced. I'm anticipating several law suites.
Correct. Biden made things much worse. He reversed Trump's executive orders, ended the remain in Mexico program, tore up negotiated agreements with central american countries regarding asylum seekers, used his discretionary powers enforcement powers to make enforcement more difficult etc..
Good points
You're right. He did do something. He sued Texan and Arizona to remove their measures to secure the border and remove illegals.
Now why would the person ultimately in charge of keeping the country secure do that?
The Bronx must be proud of her, standing up to old Joe this way!
How many times must stupid fall out of her mouth before voter's remorse sets in--or are the voters there just too ignorant to know any better?
She makes a MAGA rally look like a MENSA meeting.
It’s amazing that open borders is the issue progressives are happy to risk losing to Donald trump to defend to the max. The left used to be about protecting the working class and wage earners. Not anymore.
So Traitor Joe "sparked ire" for working to do what is the right thing to do? Not like he backed any of it up. The border is still wide open and millions crossing illegally.
So we have TWO complete idiots who aren't paying "attention to what is happening on the ground". Notice Jayapal leaves out "AMERICAN CITIZENS"?
The nerve of that one. I hope Biden caves to her again.
That would more or less seal his fate in 2024.
I don't believe those already committed to Biden will let this sway their vote.