Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speculated on Friday that the obstruction of executive action by President Biden’s staff to stem the flow of migrants at the southern frontier is occurring.
Johnson has argued that Biden does not require new authority from Congress to implement executive actions on border and migration policy, such as resuming construction of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy of the Trump administration.
“He knows that he has the authority. We’ve documented it for him. I’ve read to him the law myself — to the president. Read him the provisions of the law and said, ‘Mr. President, please take action,’” Johnson during a Friday appearance on Fox Buisness.
“I don’t think he’s allowed to do it. I’m not sure Joe Biden is actually making these decisions. I think it’s staff around him, and they’re pushing him to hold the — or to keep the border open,” he concluded.
Johnson has been pressuring Biden to take these actions for weeks.
The push occurs as Johnson criticizes a bipartisan group of senators who are negotiating an agreement that would combine an augmentation in assistance to Ukraine with modifications to border and migration policies.
Johnson stated that the bill is “dead on arrival” in the House if its contents are as reported in the press, despite the fact that the text has not yet been released.
The assertion that Biden can accomplish more through executive authority has been contested by the White House, which has also accused the Speaker of opposing the Senate border agreement and advocating for executive actions for political motives, despite having previously advocated for the passage of other border legislation.
Former President Trump has urged Republicans to oppose the Senate border agreement, and Johnson in particular.
Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) announced that the text of the agreement with Ukraine over the border will be made public on Sunday.
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