Biden skips border, meeting with local residents, media in El Paso | Just The News
By: Bethany Blankley (Just The News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
On his first trip to the southern border since he's been in office, President Joe Biden met with Democratic officials in El Paso but didn't actually visit the border, where record apprehensions are taking place. He also didn't visit the downtown area overrun by homeless migrants, meet with local residents, make formal remarks or speak with reporters.
After the president arrived at the airport, reporters waited to speak with him and expressed their expectation to hear him give remarks, The Center Square observed. Several reporters continued to ask when the president might speak, expressing consternation about not being sure at what part of his three-hour planned visit they'd be able to ask questions.
The only official who spoke with reporters and answered their questions was Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Abbott, who wasn't included in Biden's visit to Texas, arrived at the airport and waited to speak with the president. Sitting below Air Force One, he waited for the president to debark the plane. After descending the stairs, Biden shook hands with Abbott and accepted a letter the governor gave him. In it, Abbott later said he listed five actions the president could take to immediately secure the border.
They spoke briefly, after which the president left with Democratic officials. Abbott then made a point of speaking with reporters and answering their questions.
The president first visited a Customs and Border Protection processing center at the Bridge of Americas. Reporters waited outside, and again asked when they'd be able to ask the president questions. Biden again made no public remarks and didn't take questions.
Of this part of the president's visit, KVIA News 7 reported, "While at the Bridge of the Americas, President Biden watched as a canine officer demonstrated how it could find a suitcase in a trunk. The dog went around the car once and stopped at the trunk.
"The officers pulled out a suitcase and then took out what looked like fruit and a hunk of lunch meat.
"President Biden also saw another demonstration showing how a chocolate lab could find a package of what looks like drugs or money from the backseat of a Chevy pickup."
Joining the president were Democratic U.S Reps. Veronica Escobar, Henry Cuellar and Vincente Gonzalez, the El Paso mayor and other local officials, and several CBP agents.
None spoke with the media, but Cuellar tweeted he was meeting with the president "to discuss how to bring order to the border and treat migrants with respect as we implement a lawful path for relief."
Biden lastly visited El Paso's Migrant Processing Center and again didn't make public remarks or take questions from the media.
The president never visited the actual border, where illegal crossings have escalated over the past several months, prompting El Paso's mayor to declare an emergency and Abbott to deploy the Texas National Guard to El Paso last month.
The El Paso Sector, which includes two west Texas counties and all of New Mexico, has experienced a surge of illegal activity, with apprehensions breaking all-time records.
In December, agents apprehended more than 55,700 people and reported nearly 33,000 gotaways, according to preliminary CBP data obtained by The Center Square.
In November, they apprehended more than 53,000 illegal foreign nationals in the sector and reported over 24,000 gotaways.
The number of people crossing the border every month are greater than the individual populations of all but four cities and all but five of counties in New Mexico, according to 2022 Census data analyzed by The Center Square.
Prior to the president's arrival, Abbott tweeted Sunday morning, "President Biden's border visit today is to a sanitized version of El Paso. He has no plans to enforce federal immigration laws. Biden's plan will only entice more illegal crossings. Texas will continue our historic border mission to protect our state."
The National Border Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol agents, criticized Democratic leaders in El Paso and other cities, referring to them as "Open border politicians [who say] 'We need help. We need money. We'll go bankrupt. We shouldn't have to absorb this problem. The inn is full.'"
But at the same time, these officials claim, "'Our undocumented citizens pay far more in taxes than they receive in benefits,'" the NBPC said.
El Paso native and president of the Border Security Coalition, Irene Armendariz-Jackson, said the president's trip and "the El Paso that will be shown to the media is not the real El Paso that we live in every day. They've spent days clearing out the illegals, cleaning up the trash and making it look like we're not in crisis. WE ARE IN A CRISIS."
Armendariz-Jackson has been posting video of downtown El Paso before and after preparations were made for Biden's visit.
Former El Paso city councilwoman Claudia Rodriguez told The Daily Caller that nongovernmental organizations are giving money to local churches to provide assistance to homeless migrants in El Paso.
"This has never happened before," she said. "We have never had people … sleeping on the streets" like they are now, she said. "This is completely unprecedented. It's not sustainable."
People from all over the world are coming, she said, "because they were invited to come" by the Biden administration, "they feel emboldened to come and they are coming."
Biden, she said, needed to see the crisis from El Pasoans he was elected to represent because it's "very devastating on our community … it's something that we do not want, it's something we did not ask for."
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And what we thought would happen did happen. Biden's trip was a total failure.
Biden got the sanitized tour. Doubt if he saw any migrants actually crossing the border or sitting on the sidewalks of El Paso.
It was a check the block visit. Much like his method of choosing his nominations and running mate.
well i can see why it went the way it did ... there was no "cheddar " there that wouldnt leave egg on his face .
have to remember the "optics" of things .
This was a photo op and the first stunt in Biden's 2024 campaign
if that's the case it doesn't look good for him. Hard to run on failed policy.
We believe that, but they keep coming up with people who vote against their own interests.
I guess that's what happens when you base is gullible.
He should have brought AOC with him. Bet the farm she would talk to the media and probably be able squeeze out a few tears on cue if there is an empty parking lot nearby.
He keeps calling her "the president" or is it Kamala? Maybe he thinks that he's in charge of the border?
He is.
He's done a magnificent job/S
Biden only checked a box for the fact checkers and a friendly press. Can't claim Biden hasn't visited the border. What has been overlooked is how easy it is for Biden to simply ignore citizens.
As long as the box is checked then the issue has been resolved. As Obama would say it, 'eat your peas'. The citizens of El Paso have gotten from Biden all they're going to get.
That's been all he's done. They haven't resolved anything in 2 years.
Yep, Biden got the sanitized and prearranged dog and pony/mushroom treatment tour. My disgust for the man continues to grow. Not a word from the liberal lefties so far. I can't wait to see them try to defend him on this one!
"For those of us who were highly critical of Biden's false public condemnation of the border agents for whipping migrants, the photo op with agents on the border was quite jarring"...Jonathan Turley
We were supposed to forget about that lie.
And they punished them anyway:
In the progressive mind that vision was a nightmare!
Mayorkas in the back left corner with a look on his face to the Customs agent with his back to the camera seems to say "You better tell him exactly what he wants to hear." The same for the two senior Customs people as well.
Also not invited was Texas Rep. Tony Gonzalez, who represents District 43 that includes El Paso.
For anyone who doubts and needs a citation, here it is ...
Did Biden invite US Senators Cornyn and Cruz? NO again.
Just a sanitized border photo op that didn't even show any illegal aliens living on El Paso streets? Oh wait - "those people" and their trash were moved out of sight. Nothing to see ... Boo!
Sounds like Gov Abbott needs to send more buses to D.C. with a banner "The Texas Crisis You Say Doesn't Exist".
Abbott's done the same that the Biden Administration did for over a year. The only difference is that Abbott has illegals' written consent before transporting in daylight and Biden does sketchy transports of illegals at 2-3AM.
Funny how the left forgets about the Biden Airlines flights.
Bigger question is did he invite any Republicans at all? I think it can safely be said that is a big fat NO!
I think that Abbott got a Saturday late night invite call. Not sure.
If he did, I hope he told Biden to shove it up his ass.
Damn, Biden has completely ignored the border for two years, put a clown in charge of it (actually, two, Mayorkas and Kamala) and done nothing but whine about how Republicans are stopping action.
Fuck that amnesty crap too!
When Biden arrived, Abbott was there to greet him and personally handed Biden a letter. Anyone who wants to know facts about this should open this link and read it ...
Even in the Obama days, most illegals didn't meet the legal criteria for amnesty.
Thanks for the link. For all the good the letter will do. Biden did say he wanted to work on it, so after two years, I guess that is some type of progress.
As far as amnesty goes, I think it is a bad deal all around. Every time we have granted amnesty, the proponents always say it will be the last time. Seems like they always overestimate the amount of people willing to sign up for it or who would qualify for it. They should stop it forever. People in other countries know that despite the rhetoric, they will be able to come here legally or illegally and whether they are legal or not seems to not be a big deal to them.
I wonder what ever happened to immigrants being self-supporting?
Biden was hoping the email would be lost in the shuffle so he could attack Abbot for not showing up.
I was talking about any coming with him from DC.
LEGAL immigrants need to be either (A) self-supporting or (B) sponsored.
ILLEGAL ALIENS just have to show up at the border, and Biden will make sure that they get free benefits (legal help, housing, med care, education, food, clothing, etc).
Biden's plan is going to be to legalize everyone (except Cubans ) so there's no more illegal immigration.
Problem solved.
"The historical record is crystal clear. In 1952, Congress gave the executive the statutory power to temporarily “parole” aliens into the United States “in emergency cases, such as the case of an alien who requires immediate medical attention” or “a witness or for purposes of prosecution.”
Biden has used “parole” to fulfill his agenda of converting as many prospective economic migrants around the world into “asylum-seekers” supposedly fleeing persecution or violence or harm of one sort or another.
Until Thursday, his administration was doing so under the guise of relative secrecy for Mexicans and Central Americans. But Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security and the White House both issued Orwellian press releases announcing new “border enforcement measures to improve border security” and “create additional safe and orderly processes” for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans “fleeing humanitarian crises.”
Essentially, Biden plans to parole up to 30,000 a month to reside and work legally in America — or 360,000 a year. We well know that the aliens are never going to return home. "
He did not even get to see the feral cat parade
Remember what Nancy Pelosi said: “If we don’t allow illegals here, then who’s going to help pick the crops?”
Forgot about that:
Be careful. A certain person will come on here and tell you what a evil and cruel person you are for saying that!
Or their litter boxes............the streets
Years ago, I remember reading about illegals using the fields where they picked crops as toilets, because their employers didn't allow them bathroom breaks. Many of today's illegals who live on the streets use our cities' streets and parks as their toilets.
Cavuto: You don't think Biden got a sanitized view of the border crisis?
John Kirby: No...He’s very confident that the trip provided him the context and information that he was looking for.
John Kirby with a straight face
Key words "the context and information that he was looking for". So, nothing bad of course.......SMH
In other words: He who does not seek, shall not find!
Yep. Nothing quite as satisfying as going on a fact finding trip to find the facts that meet your desires. And he gets his photo opportunity on the border that he can use in the upcoming election cycle. Win/win (for the democrats that is)... Nothing for the people of the country mind you but then again in the minds of politicians we don't count.
Admiral or not, Kirby is nothing more than a bureaucratic mouthpiece hack job!
"Biden is making his first border visit of his life—a photo op—while pushing for amnesty for millions of immigrants who have crossed into the US illegally.
House Republicans will hold him and Mayorkas accountable for creating the most dangerous border crisis in American history."....Kevin McCarthy
You know things went bad when there are no Biden Butt lickers here defending Joe's visit to the border. I guess we finally get to see where the line is drawn on the "Biden is Wonderful" spin.
Not even a But But But Trump to be seen.
Hard to defend what cannot be defended.
Because they know the difference between the Trump border policy and Biden's on crossings:
In 2020: 458,088
In 2022: 2,378,944
Because they know they fucked up.
Hand delivered to Joe Biden:
This just in:
Texas GOP Rep. Pat Fallon files articles of impeachment against DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the border crisis.
Unless I overlooked It, not one supporter of Brandon has shown up to dispute the truth.
Love Abbott's letter to Biden...he pulled no punches.
Some of the hard core leftist libs must be spitting bile over this.
About the ONLY thing they can say is a positive about this is that he even showed up at a border town , its purpose though and the way its seen , well it's one thing to show up un announced and see what's really going on , and its entirely another to announce you're going to show up after a sanitizing process has occurred , one he would see what's happening daily , the other , he sees what he wants to see and can attempt to make his case based on that .
According to the Real Clear Politics average of polls, Biden finished 2022 with a modest 36.8 percent of voter approval for his immigration policies, and 58.4 percent disapproving.
The fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 saw a record 2.76 million undocumented immigrant encounters at the border with Mexico.
"What classified documents?"
Biden has listened to protests about the surge of migrants coming from Dem politicians, in California, Illinois and New York. He has been forced, politically to recognize that people aren’t morally defective if they demand a more secure and effective border policy.
He's heard them, but still ignored them.
He simply thinks they are inferior to those he is letting in.
"A handful of House Republicans filed legislation this week that would freeze United Nations funding for the next two years and use that money to finish work on a wall on the southwest U.S. border.
The Close Biden’s Open Border Act , from Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., would raise an estimated $22 billion for the border wall, as the U.S. government contributes about $11 billion per year to the U.N.
Good said repurposing the U.N. money makes sense because of prior reports indicating the U.N. is funding nonprofit groups in Mexico to help migrants make the trek through that country to the southern U.S. border. A report last year from the Center for Immigration Studies, for example, said these U.N.-funded groups are coaching migrants to talk about government persecution in their home countries, in a bid to help them qualify for asylum in the U.S."
"Pigeon wearing backpack of crystal meth detained by Canadian prison."
https://nypost.com/2023/01/11/pigeon-caught-smuggling-backpack-of-meth-detained-at-prison/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlow
A trio of sisters from El Salvador were rescued by Mexican authorities after being abandoned at the border .
The three young girls — aged one, six and nine years old — were discovered after the Mexican National Guard put out an alert Wednesday.
The girls were found on the Isla del Mudo by National Institute of Immigration officials, who promptly brought the children to safety.
The Isla del Mudo is a tiny island in the Rio Grande, which has strong currents that have taken the lives of many migrants seeking to illegally cross over US border from Mexico.
Video footage was captured of the rescue, showing the nine-year-old carrying her infant sister and helping her six-year-old sibling into the boat.
Unaccompanied children have become a painfully common sight at the US-Mexico border, where they are often left to fend for themselves after being separated from parents or abandoned by human traffickers .
The three rescued girls are currently in the care of Mexico's System for the Integral Development of the Family.