A bipartisan bill was discussed that aimed to address border security issues by hiring 1,500 more security agents and officers, adding 100 immigration judges to handle the backlog of two million cases, and employing 4,300 more asylum officers. The bill also proposed new policies to expedite case resolutions from six years to six months.
During the State of the Union address, President Biden highlighted the benefits of the failed bipartisan border deal, which was met with mixed reactions. Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma acknowledged the factual accuracy of the proposed hires and process improvements outlined by the President.
Senator Lankford emphasized the importance of changing the asylum standard and expediting hearings as legal solutions to the border challenges. He noted that the bill could have facilitated necessary changes to address the issues effectively.
However, Senator Lankford also pointed out that there are existing executive actions that President Biden could implement immediately to enhance border security. He highlighted concerns about the open parole system allowing thousands of individuals to enter daily without proper scrutiny.
Additionally, Senator Lankford suggested implementing a 'last in, first up' approach for hearings to deter unauthorized border crossings. He expressed disappointment that certain legal authorities and executive actions were not being utilized to their full potential to address the ongoing border crisis.
The discussion between President Biden and Senator Lankford underscored the complexities of border security and the need for comprehensive legislative and executive actions to effectively manage immigration challenges.
