Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) spoke to the media regarding President Joe Biden’s (D) recently announced executive order which will “temporarily shut down asylum requests” once 2,500 migrants are encountered at official ports of entry.
The Florida congressman argued what Republicans have been saying for years: the way to alleviate the border crisis is to reinstate the Trump policies such as “Remain in Mexico.”
However, he first took a jab at the bipartisan border deals negotiated by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and failed in Congress. They too included provisions that would let 5,000 migrants in a day, not 2,500.
“It certainly deflates the argument we heard months ago that you needed to let 5,000 people in every day in order to seal the border,” said Rep. Gaetz. “I made the argument along with House conservatives that Joe Biden could take the actions to seal the border in the absence of letting 5,000 people every day. And now our argument is bearing true and the Langford argument looks silly and ridiculous.”
Rep. Gaetz would go on to mention, “Anytime Joe Biden wants, you can reinstitute the Trump policies that he vanquished on day one. This is not an unsolvable problem. You don’t have to be able to unwind a Rubik’s Cube to seal the border. You just have to reinstitute the Trump policies that were working.”
Furthermore, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Whatley released a statement following Biden’s signature of the executive order.
“If Joe Biden wanted to end the border bloodbath, he would reinstate President Trump’s America First policies which kept criminals and terrorists out,” said Whatley. “Instead, his executive order will legalize thousands of illegal immigrants crossing the border each day and continue to allow illegals to commit crimes, murder innocent Americans like Laken Riley, shoot law enforcement officers, and repurpose our taxpayer-funded schools as shelters. Election year theatrics aren’t fooling anyone: Biden has intentionally opened the border and invited a tidal wave of illegal immigration, but President Trump will stop the border crisis on day one.”
The President's much-anticipated executive edict was welcomed by most Democrats, but many progressive lawmaker panned the move.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick told The Floridian that Biden's edict was "disappointing" considering the "crisis that is going on at the border."
Rep Cherfilus-McCormick added that Biden's new "policy with out anything else is kind of touch for everyone" that is trying to seek asylum.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz supports the order, but says that Democrats were "late to address" the border crisis.
"I'm happy the President has come out with the EO. I think effectively it will shut the border down until we can get the asylum numbers 10 1,500. Obviously I support people coming to this country if they are escaping persecution, like my family came here after the Holocaust," said Rep. Moskowitz.
