Rubio: Biden already has the power to secure the border, just won’t use it
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amidst a heated border dispute between Texas and the U.S. government, along with massive flows of illegal migrants into the country, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said President Joe Biden has the power to subdue the crisis, but won’t.
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection depicts an alarming rise from 2021 to 2024 in border encounters, to the tune of 200,000 to 300,000 per month.
Texas has been erecting border defenses, with its governor, Greg Abbott, declaring an “invasion” and invoking state self defense powers under the U.S. Constitution.
Biden issued a statement, blaming Republicans for not passing a border package that includes billions for border funding and still allowing in thousands of migrants per day. Biden endorsed the deal while former President Donald Trump slammed it.
“For everyone who is demanding tougher border control, this is the way to do it,” Biden said.
In response, Rubio called on Biden to prove he’s “serious” about the situation.
“[Use] the authority you already have under current law to secure the border,” Rubio said.
“We don’t need a new law to secure the border, this crisis would end instantly if Biden just fully reinstated the Trump policies,” the senator said.
“Biden people admit they don’t want to secure the border,” he said. “What they want is bipartisan support for a Senate bill they know is dead in House & that he will never enforce anyways. Then he can both keep the border open AND blame House GOP for it.”
With Texas engaging in a legal standoff with the federal government over arguments the U.S. isn’t guarding the country from “invasion,” other Florida officials like Gov. Ron DeSantis have voiced support for Texas.
“I think that what’s happening in Texas is not just a Texas issue, it’s an American issue,” DeSantis said. “And you have a situation where you’ve had over 8 million people pour into this country illegally just in the last three years.”
The governor announced last week his support for a proposal in the Florida Legislature that would allow the Florida State Guard be sent to other states, like Texas. The guard is distinct from the National Guard in that it is solely controlled by the Florida governor.
“A lot of the people, anyone that wants to do us harm will look at that border as the easiest, softest underbelly this country has right now,” DeSantis said.
The bill, HB 1551 by Rep. Mike Giallombardo, R-Cape Coral, would allow the Florida State Guard to operate outside state lines if other states enter an agreement permitting it.
