(Central Square) – Texas Republicans have criticized President Joe Biden’s address to Congress for his short remarks on illegal immigration and the fentanyl crisis.
In his speech, Biden said Congress should “come together on immigration. … We know we now have a record number of officers working to secure the border, arresting 8,000 smugglers and seizing more than 23,000 pounds of fentanyl in the last few months alone.”
He also mentioned a new visa program his administration launched last month that has already been sued. The President stated that “American border issues will not be resolved until Congress makes a decision. If we do not accept my comprehensive immigration reform, then at least we will accept my plan to provide equipment and officers for border protection… and a path to citizenship for dreamers, those with temporary status, agricultural workers, essential workers.”
The president was interrupted by Republican congressmen shouting “Defend the border!”
Biden also said, “Fentanyl kills over 70,000 Americans a year,” and was again interrupted by Republicans yelling, “It comes from China!” and “It’s your fault!”
His plan to deal with the fentanyl crisis, he said, was to “launch a massive surge to stop the manufacture, sale and trafficking of fentanyl” through “more drug-detecting machines” and better screening of shipments to “stop tablets and powders. [coming in through] borders” as well as “working with couriers like FedEx to screen more packages for drugs” and imposing “strong penalties to combat fentanyl trafficking.”
Texas congressmen who called for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Majorcas, including representatives Chip Roy and Michael Cloud, criticized the president’s speech.
In response to Biden’s claim that he needed Congress to provide him with border security funding, Cloud tweeted, “WE HAVE. His administration simply refuses to build the infrastructure needed to secure the border. That’s why DHS Secretary Mallorcas has to go.”
Roy said Biden’s speech was “not a state of alliance, but a state of confusion.”
Rep. Troy Nels said “stopping fentanyl starts with securing the border,” and the president didn’t mention the “10,000 cartel drones found last year crossing our southern border,” a fact witnessed by Texas Border Patrol chief from Rio Grande . Valley.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also issued a statement saying the president’s remarks “illustrate that states like Texas lead the nation and Washington follows.”
Abbott presented Biden with a 5-point plan to secure the border last month when the president was in El Paso, Texas, arguing that the border could be secured immediately if the administration enforced existing laws. He hasn’t received a response, he said last week.
And Biden’s plan to handle the fentanyl crisis is failing as well, Abbott said, especially since Texas law enforcement working under his border security mission, Operation Lone Star, “have embraced enough fentanyl to kill every man, woman.” and child in the United States. ”
“Americans deserve strong action from our federal government to stop the flow of this deadly drug from entering our country, but to truly resolve the fentanyl crisis, President Biden needs to do what Texas has been trying to do in his absence.” keep our southern states safe. borders,” Abbott said. “President Biden has proven once again that Texas is leading and Washington is following.”
Texas Republican Representatives Ronnie Jackson and Beth Van Dyne of north Texas were photographed screaming and pointing fingers; other Texas officials also expressed outrage.
Jackson, a former White House physician for former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, has repeatedly questioned Biden’s mental and physical health and called for his resignation under the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution. In July 2021, he first called for Biden to be removed from office, saying he was “OBVIOUSLY mentally incapable of leading in a time of crisis.”
After Biden’s speech Tuesday night, Jackson said, “Biden could barely read from the teleprompter. It was 90 consecutive minutes of either slurred speech or hysterical screams. This is scary! Biden needs to retire NOW!!
